Holly Tothe

UTSA names first women's golf coach

(Nov. 11, 2004)--UTSA has named Holly Tothe its first women's golf coach. The university announced Sept. 8 the start of women's golf in time for the 2005-06 season.

Tothe, who currently resides in Singapore as a golf instructor for Transview PTE Ltd., is making a return to San Antonio with the move to UTSA. Playing under her maiden name of Holly Carriker, she was the 1994 5-A state champion while playing at San Antonio Churchill High School. A two-time San Antonio city champion and All-America while in high school, Tothe played at the University of Southern California from 1994 to 1996. She transferred to the University of Texas at Austin where she finished her collegiate career from 1996 to 1998.

"I'm very excited, especially because it's a new program," Tothe said. "I think the potential at UTSA is huge. The support from the school, athletic department and the golf community is outstanding. I don't think it will take very long to be successful, winning conference championships and qualifying for NCAA championships. I think the resources and support will be amazing."

After graduating from Texas with a bachelor of science degree in communications in 1999, Tothe played professionally on the Futures, Players West and Ladies Challenge tours until 2000 when she worked as a golf instructor at the La Cantera Golf Academy in San Antonio, working alongside famed instructor Bryan Gathright.

"It's such a satisfying feeling. I feel like everything I have done in my 19 years has been wrapped up into one Christmas present," Tothe said. "From playing, competing collegiately and professionally, teaching and being at Arizona with the women's program, I think I have learned a lot that I want to share with others. I feel I have a lot to share with young women, whether they want to play professionally, teach or whatever they want to accomplish in their careers."

In 2001-02 she was the assistant women's golf coach at the University of Arizona, helping to lead the Wildcats to the 2002 Pac-10 Conference championship and a second place finish at the NCAA Division I Women's Golf Championships.

In June of 2002 she moved to Toronto, Canada, with her husband, Michael, to serve as a golf instructor, and in 2003 moved to Singapore to work for Transview.

"Golf has always been part of my life," she added. "Some days it is obsession, some days it is love-hate. There is something missing in my life when golf is not involved everyday. Not a day goes by that golf isn't a focal part of my life. I can't imagine life without it."

Tothe's family is highly involved in golf in the San Antonio community with her mother, Mary, heading up Golf San Antonio. Along with Tothe's father, Keith, the family hosts the Carriker Cup Tournament played each fall in San Antonio.

"We decided on Holly from an excellent list of candidates because she has ties to the San Antonio golf community, had a distinguished collegiate playing career at both USC and Texas, has a tremendous reputation as an LPGA golf teacher and she brings a level of enthusiasm that our new program will be needing," said Lynn Hickey, UTSA's director of athletics. "We are very pleased that she has accepted the position."

The addition of women's golf for the 2005-06 sports season will allow UTSA to compete immediately for the Southland Conference championship.

--Rick Nixon