Where Are They Now - Jessica Steward
Coral Gables, Fla. – Welcometo another edition of the ‘Where Are They Now’ women’s golf series. We aretracking down former Hurricane golfers and chronicling their lives sinceleaving the University of Miami. Our next UM alum is 2008 graduate Jessica Steward,who graciously answered a few questions.
Name: Jessica Steward
Years attended UM: 2004-2008
Degree earned (if any):Sport Administration/Business Management
Awards: Golfstat NationalPlayer of the Week, holds UM’s 36 and 54-hole scoring records
1. Where do you live now andwhat are you up to these days?
I’m currently the head women’s golf coach at IPFW, a Division I universityin Fort Wayne, Ind. I’m also a part-time assistant professional at Coyote CreekGolf Club, where I create and instruct the facility’s educational programs. Ialso give private lessons and am a LPGA Certified Teaching Professional.
2. Soon after your career at UM,where did life take you?
I headed straight to the Futures Tour upon graduation, but quicklyrealized that was not the career for me. I always knew that I had a passion forcoaching, and accepted my current position later that summer. I’m now gettingready to start my fifth season at IPFW. Time has certainly flown by!
3. Are you still playing golf?
Yes, but only as a hobby, and not nearly as often as I would like. Iwould love to keep my game in shape and compete in some professional events,but unfortunately I just don’t have the time for that right now.
4. What is your fondest memoryabout playing for the Hurricanes?
I have several, it’s so hard to choose! Winning the Georgia StatePelican Preserve and setting the school’s 36 and 54-hole scoring records was avery proud moment in my golfing career. I’m also very thankful for theopportunities I’ve had to travel to such amazing destinations such asPinehurst, Kiawah Island and San Francisco to name a few. Off the course, myteammates and I had a lot of fun together while traveling and at home. We lovedto sing karaoke at Titanic, go to Monty’s for dinner on Friday nights, and goto Riviera Pizza after practice.
5. Do you still keep in touchwith your former teammates? If so, who are you closest with?
Yes, I keep in touch with most of them. I just saw Esther Lee at anLPGA seminar last week! I also keep in touch with Tina Miller and HagenWeintraub. Tiffany Prats is also a college coach, she’s the assistant atMaryland, so I run into her every once in a while. Thanks to Facebook, we’reall able to keep in touch and see what everybody is up to.
6. Have you raised any children,and if so, how old are they now and what do they do?
No children for me yet!
7. I have to ask, do you keep upwith the Canes football team on game days?
Of course! Although they don’t televise many games here in the midwest.I live amongst Notre Dame, Purdue and Ohio State fans, so let’s just say the Canesaren’t too many people’s favorite. However, I’m ready and psyched for the NotreDame game on October 6th!!!
8. Last question, what advicewould you give the girls on the team today?
I would tell them to enjoy and take full advantage of the opportunityto play golf for the University of Miami. They have the resources to become thebest they can be on the course, in the classroom, and life. When they’relooking back on their college careers several years later, they won’t rememberthe bad rounds, but they will remember the lessons they learned from theircoaches, teammates, professors and peers.
