When Texas women’s golf head coach Laura Ianello conducted her individual player meetings in November, she left nearly every conversation with the same thought.
Despite the talent in the room, something was clearly missing.
Although Texas entered the season as the No. 2 team in the nation in Golf Channel’s preseason rankings, the team has since slipped down the standings, where it now sits at No. 11. While Texas often found itself slotting into fourth place in tournaments, it could never quite find a podium finish.
Now, after a three-month break, Ianello believes she’s found the missing piece to her puzzle: mindset.
“In my previous 17 years of coaching, I can honestly tell you that I was a (stickler) for the players to always have good effort, attitude and composure,” Ianello said. “But I didn’t have an honest, concrete method of how I could help the women to stay positive, keep their composure.”
With no clear action plan, Ianello turned to the Texas Athletics higher-ups for advice. This eventually led her to Brian Cain, a mental performance coach who had previously helped the Texas baseball team.
“I said, ‘Let’s give it a shot.’ (I) had a couple meetings with Brian, and I bought all in,” Ianello said. “Working with Brian Cain has helped me to become a better coach, to be better for these women, and I can see that it will pay off.”
Even with the right tools, there’s still work to be done. For Ianello, that work lies in keeping the team present in the moment.
“There’s the saying when you focus on the past, that is depression. When you focus on the future, that causes anxiety,” Ianello said.
She often found that the team couldn’t capitalize on big moments, particularly when wins were on the line. That has pushed her to emphasize awareness with her team, teaching them to recognize when they lose focus in high-pressure situations.
Whether it’s erratic breathing or a wandering focus, Ianello remains keyed in on identifying the symptoms before they snowball.
From that point, players go through specific routines designed to stop spirals before they start. From controlled breathing and physical reset actions to focal points and verbal cues, these tools bring focus to the present moment.
With spring competition set to begin in the Therese Hession Regional Challenge this upcoming weekend, it’s time to put that work into action.
“(This) tournament is the most important tournament of their lives, because it’s right now, right here,” Ianello said. “Every time they tee it up, every time, it’s an opportunity to do something that has never been done before in their lives and in their games. … Something great can continue to happen, and that is how you grow. But you only grow by staying present and focused on where your feet are.”
For Ianello, the fall’s frustrations have become fuel rather than baggage — it’s a reminder of the holistic nature of the sport.
As Texas opens its spring slate, the focus isn’t on reclaiming a preseason ranking, but on executing in the moments that previously slipped away.
“Our mission is where toughness grows, character rises and champions are built for life,” Ianello said.
