The first time ASU came calling for Tulsa coach Melissa McNamara, she politely declined.
But when McNamara's phone rang a second time, politeness took a back seat to the opportunity to guide arguably the best women's golf program in the country.
"ASU came after me," McNamara said last week in a phone interview from her soon-to-be former office in Tulsa. "They felt I would be a good fit."
McNamara, who assumed the role of head coach at Tulsa after her mother Dale retired last year after 26 years and four national titles, was reluctant to leave the school where her mother had made such an indelible mark.
But the former LPGA tour pro said the more she thought about ASU, the more excited she became about forging her own legacy as a Sun Devil coach.
"It kind of got my competitive juices flowing," McNamara said. "I really felt that I could be successful at ASU."
But McNamara scoffs at the suggestion that she jumped ship at Tulsa after only a year simply to free herself of her mother's legacy.
"In hindsight I guess (starting fresh) is a possibility but that wasn't a motivating factor at all," McNamara said. "I felt like it was my program. If anything, I kind of put the pressure on myself."
One advantage ASU's new coach has on her side is the experience her 11 years on the LPGA tour can afford her when trying to drive home a point to her new athletes. But McNamara is quick to point out that showboating is not a trait she finds particularly effective as a college coach.
"I try not to play that LPGA Tour card very often," McNamara said. "I don't have to sit there and say 'When I was on tour we did it like this.' They know that I have the experience."
But McNamara said she does believe her pro experience will help steer her young golfers toward the right decision when the pro question comes up.
"I can certainly point them in the right direction," she said. "Experience is a wonderful teacher."
McNamara said she is "still developing" her recruiting pitch but feels that, given ASU's modern facilities, the best thing for a potential ASU recruit to do is visit the campus.
"I think that it is important to get the student and the family to come visit the campus, especially at Arizona State because the facilities are so outstanding."
In fact, McNamara said, even with all of the high praises her own players had sung about ASU, she didn't believe all of the hype until she toured the campus two weeks ago.
"I had never actually been to the back of the range," McNamara said, referring to ASU's private practice are for athletes. "It's an awesome facility."
McNamara said she also believes an athlete's attention to her studies helps to make for a more successful golfer on the course. To that end, she said she always looks at a student's potential in the classroom.
"I find that good students tend to make better golfers," McNamara said.
And better golfers are one thing she will have at ASU with returning starters in Melanie Hunt, Gaelle Truet and Blair O'Neal. McNamara also has five freshmen to introduce to the program.
"That's a lot larger team than I have ever had before."
And if an issue comes up that the second-year coach hasn't experienced yet? Help is just a phone call away.
"I'm going to lean on my mother and on (former ASU coach) Linda Vollstedt," McNamara said. "I've got two Hall of Fame coaches just a phone call away. I think that's an incredible situation to be in."
Reach the reporter at al.stevens@asu.edu.
