To honor Women’s History Month, University of Detroit Mercy’s Office of Marketing & Communications spoke to Titan student-athletes and coaches about their experiences in sports, which Title IX made possible. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the passage of the landmark legislation.
Here’s what women’s golf head coach Lindsey Lammers ‘14 had to say:
Lindsey Lammers ’14
Hometown: Milan, Mich.
Major: Business
Position: Head coach
Sport: Women’s golf
Lindsey Lammers starred for the Detroit Mercy women’s golf team as a student-athlete and returned to lead the program less than a decade after graduating. Lammers was a two-time Horizon League Player of the Year and helped the Titans capture two Horizon League championships (2013-14). She was an eight-time medalist, including winning the Horizon League individual crown twice.
Why did you choose Detroit Mercy?
When I met with the coaches and the team, I had a good connection with the girls. It was a place that highlighted and valued education and school. I didn’t have everything figured out, but I knew I could leave here with a respected education. I could compete and play Division I golf and combine that with the education, it was a no-brainer for me.
How was your experience as a student-athlete at Detroit Mercy?
It was a great experience. One, the intimacy that Detroit Mercy had to offer, from an educational standpoint, it was something that I valued. There was an open-door policy in the Athletics Department and with the coaching staff. They were a very successful golf program in those years when I was playing. I loved winning and competing and being part of the winning culture under head coach Terri Ryan. My teammates during my time there are some of my lifelong best friends. I couldn’t owe enough to Detroit Mercy. When you merge the education, my best friends and playing Division I golf and winning a lot, it was the whole package. It was some of the best moments of my life.
How did you get involved in sports? How old were you and what sports did you play?
I grew up a tomboy, I was always around my older brother Nate, who was 5-6 years older and my dad. My brother was an avid golfer at the time. We would go to the range every day after dinner; it was something we did, just the three of us. I had a golf club in my hands at 5 years old. I started competing when I was 10, in some small local golf tournaments. I grew up in golf. I started competing at a young age and it was a very similar story with basketball. I played basketball and golf in high school, as well. I was very competitive-minded and I owe a lot of that to being that tag-a–long sister. I was always around the boys, my brother and his friends and that usually revolved around sports.
Who is a role model that you’ve had in sports?
It’s my father, my dad, Mike. He was also my golf swing coach, throughout high school and college and on the LPGA/Symetra Tour after college. He’s been my right-hand guy in my life, but especially in sports. He was my basketball coach, he would coach our AAU teams, when I was 10, 11, 12-years old. My whole family is very competitive. My mother played basketball in high school. My dad with golf was the guy for me, he’s a great human, and played a pivotal role in my success in basketball and golf. And now we bond over coaching and it’s cool to see the transition with my father and pick his brain on coaching.
How has participating in sports helped shape your life?
Tremendously. I probably can’t say enough how competing and travelling and all of that has impacted my life and who I innately am now. You’re always working towards an end goal in golf. Hit one more bucket of balls and carrying that mindset into corporate America. You’re thinking about the same concepts as a team and competing and carrying that over into your job, which is also very competitive. It can be a grind, but you’re always driving towards an end goal. The traits you learn in college with competing and the mental toughness, such as fighting through an injury. You can’t mimic that anywhere else. I’m forever grateful for being a competitive athlete.
How special is it to lead the team that you used to play for?
I had been missing golf so much after throwing in the towel after competing on the Symetra Tour. I wanted to get back involved with the game in some capacity. I enjoy helping and having an impact on other people, in whatever capacity that is. The head coach job opened up and I actually had been living in Florida, but I moved back for a year and then the job opens up. Talk about timing. It was just meant to be. Now it’s time to carry the reins here and I’m passionate in helping the girls now. I always say, and my girls will probably roll their eyes, get 1% better every day. That’s what it’s all about now.
What do you love about the University?
One thing I really love about it is the sort of intimacy of the classroom and campus. You get your questions answered when you need them. It’s just a big old Detroit Mercy family. It’s smaller, but everyone cares about each other. That was one thing I valued about Detroit Mercy and the University as a whole. You get the Division I experience but a small, family-like feel.
Check out our other profiles on our women student-athletes and coaches: Cross country and track and field student-athlete Kaitlin Murray; women’s lacrosse student-athlete Kaileigh Nuessgen; women’s fencing student-athlete Isabella Cole; women’s soccer student-athlete Hannah Alexis; former women’s basketball and softball head coach Sue (Kruszewski) Hardy ’64.