Belles hire former Irish women's golf coach Susan Holt

Earlier this week, the Saint Mary's golf team was dealt a surprise when head coach Jordan Koehler stepped down. Koehler had been with the Belles since Feb. 2021, leading the Belles to 15 18-hole round victories during her tenure. Saint Mary's earned back-to-back MIAA NCAA Tournament Automatic Qualifying bids in 2021 and 2022, reaching the Division III championship both times. However, Koehler left the program to accept an assistant coaching position at the University of Denver.

Her replacement is hardly someone unfamiliar to women's college golf in the South Bend area. Susan Holt served as head coach of the Notre Dame women's golf team from 2006-2022, achieving plenty of success. Now, she's coming out of retirement with hopes of leading the Belles to new heights.

“I want to thank Director of Athletics Julie Schroeder-Biek for this wonderful opportunity,” Holt said in a press release issued by Saint Mary's on Thursday. “Saint Mary's golf has a tradition of excellence and Coach Jordan Koehler has positioned this team for success with a firm foundation in place. I am excited to continue the work and bring home championships in the years to come.”

Holt began her collegiate coaching career all the way back in 1990 at the Purdue University. She arrived in South Bend almost 20 years ago after a 13-year stint as head coach at South Florida. Holt achieved several impressive accomplishments coaching the Irish, culminating in the program's first NCAA Finals appearance in 2011. The Irish won three Big East titles and 17 tournament championships during Holt's time at the helm. She also helped individuals thrive on and off the course, which Holt says is the driving factor for returning from retirement.

“These women play for the love of the game and that is enough for them,” Holt said in the press release. “This is what has drawn me back into coaching collegiate golf. It is relationship-based, not transactional. My passion is teaching and these students have a strong desire to learn and have the work ethic to get better.”

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