NORFOLK, Va. -- The Old Dominion women's golf team is headed back to an NCAA Regional. Head coach Mallory Hetzel and all five players from last season's history-making squad are still on the roster.
But, there is one big change.
Last year's senior team captain, Rachel Walker, is now the assistant coach for the Monarchs.
After a fairy-tale ending to her collegiate playing career, Walker has the unique opportunity to coach the players she still calls teammates.
“It wasn’t until the end of last summer, when I was starting to look to apply at other schools, that she [Coach Hetzel] was like ‘Hey, I’d really love for you to stay here and coach,'" said Walker about joining the coaching staff.
Flash back to May of 2017. The whirlwind conclusion to Walker's senior year included winning a Conference USA Championship, graduating and then competing in the program's first-ever NCAA Regional.
All of this while the Scotland native was also trying to prepare for life after college.
At the time, Travis Lauterbach was Hetzel’s assistant coach. So, Walker, knowing she wanted to go into the coaching world, began to look at other schools. Not long after Walker began her search, Lauterbach left ODU to take the head coaching position at Lyon College in Arkansas. Hetzel immediately reached out to her former player.
"Hiring Rachel was an easy decision," said Hetzel. "When the position became available, she was the one and only person I wanted to hire."
Fast forward one year and Walker is just as excited about the NCAA Regional experience as she was as a player. The Monarchs were one of the last teams in and were one of just six non-Power 5 schools to earn an at-large. ODU is the No. 13 seed at next week's Madison Regional.
“I was honestly more nervous waiting to hear that we got the at-large bid than I ever was as a player," said Walker. “I knew how much it meant to me as a player that I wanted the team to experience that again."
Caption: Rachel Walker with the 2017 Conference USA Championship trophy.
Making Walker's NCAA experience as a player last year even more special was the fact that she graduated the Saturday morning before hopping on a plane to Columbus with the team.
This year, it is seniors Maggie Simmermacher and Katerina Vlasinova who get to partake in the same graduation-to-competition experience. Simmermacher and Vlasinova will walk in the graduation ceremony at the Ted Constant Center on Saturday and then head to the airport immediately after and fly with the team to Madison.
"It's a roller coaster of emotions," said Walker about the unique graduation. "It was a pretty cool. So, I just tell Maggie and Kate to cherish it, because they are not going to experience that again.”
On the course, Walker is a valuable asset for the players she still calls "friends" and "teammates." After several years of competing with these same players, Walker knows their games better than anyone.
“Playing with them the past few years, I know the shots they like to hit," said Walker. "Every now and then, I’ll give my advice. I’d tell them the shot I would hit, just to give them that option.”
Caption: Rachel Walker (second from right) celebrates with her teammates at last year's C-USA Tournament.
And the players are not the only ones who benefit from Walker's experience and knowledge.
“Rachel and I have had a great relationship since I arrived on campus," said Hetzel. "We communicate very well and I trust her opinion. I can honestly say if not for her leadership and support we would not be headed to NCAAs."
From practice planning to recruiting, Walker has learned a lot in her first year as a coach. She credits Hetzel along with her familiarity to the players and the program for making the transition easier.
“I’ve learned a lot," said Walker. "It’s been eye-opening."
Down the road, Walker has aspirations of becoming a head coach. Perhaps, the biggest obstacle between Walker and that dream is out of her control. The recent changes to the government's immigration policy have made it more difficult to obtain extended Work Visas.
"A lot tougher," Walker simply stated about the Visa process.
There are essentially two options for Walker. Option No. 1, becoming a graduate assistant and returning to school to work towards a Master's Degree. Option No. 2, the H1B Skilled Worker Visa that would allow her to stay for three, or even six, years.
Either way, Walker's success as a coach and player bodes well not only for her future, but for the future of ODU women's golf.
"Rachel understands better than anyone what it means to be a successful scholar-athlete at ODU," said Hetzel. "Rachel is a wonderful ambassador not only for our program but the University as well. She’s a great partner and I look forward to sharing more successes with her in the future."