by Brad Parrott, Associate Athletics Director/External Affairs
| Former UTSA player Tom Relf (1987-88) addresses the crowd on Sunday night. |
SAN ANTONIO ? Twenty-four community leaders who care about UTSA, love golf and want to mentor young student-athletes gathered on Monday, Sept. 22, at Briggs Ranch Golf Club for an afternoon of golf and evening dinner with the Roadrunner men’s and women’s golf teams. Calling themselves UTSA24, the group has donated more than $60,000 to help move Roadrunners golf programs to the top level of NCAA competition.
“UTSA24 is a group of prominent business men and women who collectively decided it was time to demonstrate their support for the local university,” Athletics Director Lynn Hickey said. “Because they all play and love golf, the cause they selected was the young people playing the game for the city’s only NCAA Division I athletics program.”
Formed by word of mouth and at the urging of former UTSA head women’s golf coach Holly Tothe, UTSA24 extended invitations to 30 individuals, with 24 accepting the challenge to support the program and mentor the student-athletes. The group has adopted the slogan, “Having fun helping young people.”
“I had such a wonderful time spending the day around these young people,” retired AT&T executive Karen Jennings said. “I’m extremely excited to have the opportunity to share some of my experiences with them as they embark upon their professional careers, both on and off the golf course.”
With beautiful Briggs Ranch as the setting, the men’s and women’s teams joined UTSA24 members in a clinic given by Oak Hills Country Club professional Bryan Gathright and Briggs Ranch Director of Golf Tom Relf. Following lunch, the group played 18 holes with Roadrunners team members.
Hickey, Women’s Head Coach Carrie Cole and Men’s Head Coach John Knauer addressed the group at dinner in the Briggs Ranch clubhouse. Hickey thanked the group for their support and briefed them on the current status of the athletics department.
“It’s time to jump on board or miss the bus,” Hickey said of plans for the near future.
Senior Allie Jordan said the event was a tremendous step forward for the golf programs.
“Having the support of such outstanding people will make our program grow by leaps and bounds,” Jordan said.
Senior Kyle Collins said he wished he didn't graduate this spring.
“I wish I had a few more years to see the program become competitive on a national level,” Collins said.
UTSA24's outing was one of the first chances for Knauer and Cole to meet community leaders, as both were hired this past summer.
“The support of the San Antonio golf community, and specifically UTSA24, played a major role in enticing me to accept the UTSA job,” said Knauer, a former Arizona assistant.
Cole was an assistant at Tennessee prior to accepting her current position in July.
UTSA24 members will gather frequently for dinners with the UTSA teams and take trips to out-of-town tournaments to watch the Roadrunners and play golf on their own. Knauer and Cole will provide pre- and post-tournament updates by e-mai and members also will provide career counseling and mentoring to the student-athletes.