Simon Elfrink
Contributing Writer
After five years of playing golf at Murray State and becoming the 2019 OVC Women’s golf champion, Anna Moore will stick with the Racers as assistant coach.
Moore spent the months following her final year weighing her options, debating the next step in her career. Knowing she didn’t want to leave golf behind, Moore looked into coaching and professional play.
Both had been on her mind throughout her time at Murray State, where she helped the women’s golf team win the OVC title three years in a row after being a redshirt freshman. However, by the end of the summer, Moore made the decision to join the Racers’ staff.
She says the goal of becoming a coach became more and more real as she continued her playing career.
“I had the thought for probably three or four years leaning that way,” Moore said. “I was pretty set on it from my junior year on.”
Murray State women’s golf Head Coach Velvet Milkman coached Moore throughout her career with the Racers and they met over the summer to discuss Moore’s future. By the time July rolled around, Moore had more than considered her options. Knowing Milkman had extensive knowledge on coaches and colleges in the area that could use an assistant, Moore recognized her former coach as a perfect resource.
“We were just talking and she said ‘why don’t you just come back here?’” Moore said. “I don’t think it was really a plan. It just happened, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity.”
Moore said she wouldn’t be opposed to being a head coach someday, just not this soon.
“I would definitely like to be a head coach,” Moore stated. “There were some opportunities that smaller schools were looking for a head coach, but I didn’t think that I could jump into that coming straight from playing.”
For the time being, Moore is excited to get to work with the Racers as the season is underway.
“We have a good mix this year,” Moore said. “Some of my closest friends are still here. We got a good group of younger girls this year, so I’m focused more toward them.”
Moore admits coaching is quite different from playing, but based on what she’s seen so far, she has nothing but high hopes as the season continues.
After some early success in the season opener, the Murray State Women’s golf team will head to the University of Kentucky to compete in the Betty Lou Evans Invitational on Friday, Sept. 27.
