LaRee Sugg Featured in Golf Magazine
05/22/2002 | Women's Golf
May 22, 2002
The first head coach of the University of Richmond's start-up women's golf program, LaRee Pearl Sugg, is the subject of a feature story in the May edition of Golf Journal. Reprinted with permission, here is the article...
Making Her Own History
Sugg is landmark hire as Richmond's first coach
As one of only three African-Americans ever to compete on the LPGA Tour, LaRee Sugg stands as a testament for any person who has been told she can't fulfill her aspirations. While Sugg's 11-year pro career - she also competed in Europe, Asia and on developmental circuits in the U.S. - has not produced any landmark victories, her recent decision to go back to college did make history.
Eleven years removed from UCLA, where she helped the Bruins win the 1991 NCAA Women's title, Sugg accepted the head coaching position at the University of Richmond in early March. Not only is she the women's program's inaugural coach (the team begins play this fall), but she is the first African-American to head up a golf program that's not at a historically black college or university.
"I don't look at being a minority as an obstacle," says the 32-year-old Sugg, whose grandfather, Dr. James Nelson, coached at Virginia State and remains her idol. "I always tell young people not to be afraid to be the first one or the only one. That can be applied to almost everything in life, not just golf or sports."
Armed with an ebullient personality and a wealth of playing experience, Sugg appears more than ready to guide the Spiders' program. Her presence also could lead to more minority representation in collegiate golf, whether among players or coaches. According to the National Minority Golf Foundation, Sugg is just the second female African-American to coach golf at the NCAA Division I level, joining Catana Starks, the men's coach at Tennessee State.
For Sugg, the Richmond job was a perfect fit. She grew up some 30 minutes from the school in Petersburg, and the post allows her to continue playing competitively on a limited basis. Yet her focus is bringing Richmond to national prominence. Being a current player should help bring a realistic perspective of the game to her recruits.
"Golf can teach a lot of life lessons," she says. "I want to develop leadership skills in young people that can carry them on and off the course." - D.S.