There will be a new face in women’s golf at The University of Memphis this season.
Katie Gallina-Rump, 25, was hired last week as interim women’s golf coach.
“I’m very excited about this oppurtunity,” Gallina-Rump said. “I’m looking forward to the season.”
U of M Athletic Director R.C. Johnson said that Gallina-Rump was the best choice to take over the successful program, which had been headed by Debby King since 1995.
“We’d be hard-pressed to find someone better than she is,” Johnson said.
King resigned to start a women’s golf program at Notre Dame. At The U of M, King led her teams to two Conference USA championships, five NCAA tournaments and six tournament championships.
Gallina-Rump is a 1998 graduate of Auburn University, where she thrived in the Lady War Eagle golf program. In her career at Auburn, Gallina-Rump picked up several honors including All-American, All-Southeastern Conference and Academic All-SEC honors.
Gallina-Rump was named as an All-SEC freshman in her first season. As a senior, she recieved the Leah Rawls Adkins Award, which is given to an Auburn athlete for excellence in sports, academics and community service.
Gallina-Rump played an intricate part in her team earning three consecutive NCAA berths from1996-98. The Lady War Eagles also competed in the SEC Championships in 1996.
While at Auburn, Gallina-Rump also competed successfully at the amateur level. In 1997, Gallina-Rump played in the 1997 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship in West Newton, Mass.
In 1995 and 1996, Gallina-Rump was the Tennessee state amateur champion. She earned runner-up honors in the contest in 1998 and 2000.
As a student at St. Agnes High School in Memphis, Gallina-Rump earned a spot on the Ping Junior All-American team. For two years, she was named to the Commercial Appeal’s Best of Preps women’s golf team. As a senior, Gallina-Rump recieved the Silver Anniversary Best of the Preps Golf Athlete of the Year.
Before being hired at The U of M, Gallina-Rump worked at Windyke Country Club and as a substitute teacher in the Shelby County School System.
Johnson said Gallina-Rump’s young age and lack of coaching experience will not hinder her ability to lead the lady’s golf squad.
“It’s not the age, so much as your personal experience,” Johnson said. “When you’re young like she is, you can relate to student athletes.”
Gallina-Rump, a student of King’s, said she will bring with her the knowledge she has acquired under King. However, she said, the two’s coaching styles vary.
“I’m more into the mental aspect of the game,” said Gallina-Rump. “I’d like to make it fun for them.” Gallina-Rump met with her team for the first time Sunday, a squad which won the C-USA championship last season.
All of the golfers from last year’s squad will return this season, along with one new signee.
“I’m jumping in with both feet first,” said Gallina-Rump.
The Lady Tigers will compete in their first tournament of the season, The Women’s Intercollegiate, on Sept. 17 at The National Golf Club in Collierville.
