Name: Samantha Firestone
Position: Head Men's and Women's Golf Coach and Coordinator for the SVC Center for Catholic Thought and Culture & Benedictine Leadership Studies
Years at Saint Vincent: Seven
Undergraduate Alma Mater/Year: Saint Vincent College, C'17
Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor's degrees in marketing and entrepreneurship
Graduate School: Saint Vincent College, G'19
Graduate Degree: M.S. in Instructional Design and Technology
Q: Why did you choose to pursue a career in college athletics?
A: "There's something really special about college-aged individuals and every day is something new. You never know how your day will unfold but it will never disappoint. College students make me laugh every day."
Q: What is your favorite part of the job?
A: "The student athletes! Learning about who they are, how they got to where they are, and where they want to go, it's all super interesting to me."
Q: What makes Saint Vincent College a unique and enjoyable place to coach/work?
A: "I can't pinpoint it but there is a reason I attended Saint Vincent as a student and haven't left. There are good people here in unexpected places that make my days very fulfilling. I've created a lot of valuable friendships."
Q: Favorite television show?
A: "Below Deck and the Housewives. I'm all about the Bravo channel and reality shows!"
Q: Favorite band/singer?
A: "Currently, Morgan Wallen."
Q: Who is your favorite athlete?
A: "Cat Osterman, Jenny Finch and Monica Abbott. Softball pitchers offer something extra."
Q: What is your favorite sports moment?
A: "I can't state a specific moment but buzzer beater, NCAA March Madness games may top everything. Or a major golf championship that is decided by a final putt or playoff hole."
Q: Who is a coach that you look up to in the professional or collegiate ranks?
A: "Pat Summit, Muffet McGraw, Patty Gasso...these women created elite championship programs by building up their players both in and out of athletics."
Q: What is something that goes into coaching college golf that people may not understand?"
A: "Golf is like an island in the sports world. It's very different. A unique thing about coaching golf is that I cannot see all of my participating team members at once. They are spread out around the course and since I can only be in one place at one time, I am constantly making decisions about where to be and who to see. Understanding each team member's personality, competitive nature, temperament, golf strengths and weaknesses, how they work through a round, experience at the course being played, how much they eat or drink...the list goes on and on of what I consider for six hours. Each player needs different things at different points in their rounds and I am constantly thinking about where each of them are during a round and what they may need. Positioning myself on the course to be the most beneficial to each player for them to have successful rounds is a goal. It certainly takes time to learn about each player and their game but when a player and I have been around each other for enough rounds, I can predict when they may need support, someone to chat with, or space to just do their thing and play their game. From a coaching standpoint, not being able to see all of my players competing at once, from one spot makes a competitive collegiate golf event incredibly different than most other sports."
Q: What is your proudest coaching accomplishment?
A: "Being able to talk through a specific shot or game plan for a player and watching them execute it perfectly is incredibly rewarding! During the PAC Championship a few years ago, I watched three groups go through a par 5 with a tiered green and tons of breaks and undulations. After watching a handful of putts from a very similar spot, I had a team member end up in that exact area. I had watched putts go far past the hole but run with true break that they had all read. I told him to read the green and trust that it's true (he was very good at reading greens), but let the ball stop at a certain spot. That spot is where I saw the balls start picking up speed and that's why everyone was going 2-3 feet past the hole. He nailed the read of the green and put just enough speed on it to get to that one point. It almost stopped but with about two more rotations it picked up speed and he sunk a long birdie putt. He trusted my observations and executed it perfectly! That was an awesome moment."
Q: Why should a student-athlete choose to attend Saint Vincent College to continue their athletic and academic careers?
A: "Athletics will enhance your collegiate experience, no doubt! But there is a bigger picture to athlete development and the coaches at Saint Vincent recognize that there is more to it than checking the boxes. Don't get me wrong, our coaches are incredibly competitive and want players to have that same passion but Saint Vincent as a campus and those who work here want to see student athletes succeed in every aspect of their life. So much of what they learn and how they grow as an individual is what matters."
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