Tulsa women's coach to retire after 26 years

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Tulsa women's golf coach Dale McNamara, after 26 years and four national championships, says it's time for someone younger to take over. McNamara said she will retire at

Wednesday, February 16th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Tulsa women's golf coach Dale McNamara, after 26 years and four national championships, says it's time for someone younger to take over. McNamara said she will retire at the end of the current women's golf season. "It will be hard to walk away, but I know that this is the right time," said McNamara, whose recruits included LPGA great Nancy Lopez.

McNamara, 64, is considered a pioneer in women's collegiate golf and built teams that were always national championship contenders. Her teams finished first or second in the nation nine times, made the top 10 in 21 of her 26 years, won 79 tournaments and came in second 36 times. Tulsa had 27 All-Americans under McNamara, including Lopez. "I can remember meeting Nancy like it was yesterday," said McNamara, who recruited Lopez in her first season at Tulsa. "We sat on the floor of her home, eating doughnuts and looking through her scrapbooks."

McNamara also coached Kelly Robbins, one of the top current players on tour, Nancy Baker-Guadagnino, Carolyn Hill, Jody Rosenthal-Anschutz and Melissa McNamara. "She developed a women's golf program from the ground floor, and made it into a national powerhouse when women's athletics were in their infancy," said Tulsa athletic director Judy MacLeod.

A Tulsa native, McNamara was one of Oklahoma's most successful amateur golfers. She began her career in 1974 as a volunteer coach, when Tulsa's golf budget was $1,500 per year.

In 1985, she was named national coach of the year when the Golden Hurricane won eight of 13 tournaments before finishing second in the NCAA tournament. McNamara has served as Tulsa's assistant athletic director since 1981 and plans to stay in the athletic department as a consultant. "There are so many people who have played important roles in my life, and I trust that I have been able to be influential to the young women whom I've coached," she said.