Julie Wagner has been hired to serve as the first women's golf coach at Indiana Wesleyan University. The women's golf program will begin its inaugural season in the fall of 2012.
"It's very exciting to be the first women's golf coach at Indiana Wesleyan," said Wagner. "It's a little humbling and I am really looking forward to getting the startup team going. Hopefully in a few years we will have a great women's golf team."
Indiana Wesleyan Athletic Director Mark DeMichael believes that Wagner was the clear choice for the position.
"We're extremely pleased to have Julie on board as our new women's golf coach. She brings a passion for golf and for teaching that really makes her the perfect fit to start a brand new program from the ground up."
The women's golf program will be the 16th intercollegiate sport at Indiana Wesleyan and the first new addition since women's soccer was added in 1991. Women's tennis was also restarted in 1991 after a nine year absence.
"The first year is going to be a building year," continued Wagner. "I'm hoping to get one or two really good players in and then to get some other players that we can hopefully build their swings and help them get better so in the coming years we have a good, solid team."
Wagner is the Golf Teaching Professional at Wildcat Creek Golf Course in Kokomo, Indiana. She has worked at Wildcat Creek Golf Course since April 2011 and earned a United States Golf Teachers Federation license as a Golf Teaching Professional.
"Last year I decided I wanted to devote my time into being a certified instructor," said Wagner. "So I was able to get certified and landed a job at a golf course as a golf instructor. I really have a passion for building people's swings and helping them with their game to whatever level they want to play at."
Before making golf a profession, Wagner had a flourishing career at Delphi Electronics & General Motors for 13 years in Kokomo.
"What set Julie apart was her passion, not just for golf, but for teaching golf," DeMichael said. "She's been incredibly successful. She has a successful professional background and chose to pursue teaching and coaching golf. You can see and sense that love for the game, that love for young people. It really set her apart."
Wagner has a lot of playing experience in tournaments. She is a two-time Howard County Champion in addition to winning several amateur championships.
"It was a good run," stated Wagner. "Now instead of playing in tournaments I want to develop people and help them play well."
Wagner will now have the rest of the spring semester and summer to field the first Indiana Wesleyan women's golf team before play begins in the fall of 2012.
