Molly Gonzales has been hired as the new head coach for men’s and women’s golf. Gonzales shares her experience, excitement, and gratitude as she is in full swing to get her and her team in gear this season.
“It’s a lot of learning and I am excited, we’re definitely figuring it out as I go with, especially with something like this in-between season is hard because the fall season already happened and I am catching up with the backend of stuff like booking hotels, scheduling, which is challenging but the players have been doing a great job at easing me in as their coach and I have had lots of help.” Coach Gonzales said.
Stepping into the role of head coach midseason for the first time, she expressed excitement while being open about the lessons she’s learning and the challenges she’s taking head on behind the scenes.
Gonzales acknowledged the connections and relationships that led her to become the new head coach and offered advice to other young women who want leadership positions.
“I think connections are the most important piece.” Coach Gonzales said. “Be nice. Build relationships and be confident in yourself even if you’re unsure and feel as if you’re not equipped for something, you don’t know until you try.”
Gonzales’ background in golf includes playing growing up while living on a golf course. She also played in high school, and she connected with her mentor, Courtney Mahon, who later asked Gonzales to help run junior golf programs, a role she continues today.
Freshman golfer Melker Hogstrom of Sweden was originally recruited by previous Baker coach Chris Gilbert, so having a new coach midseason was a surprise.
“I really liked Coach Gilbert, so him leaving was a bit of a shock, but Coach Gonzales has had individual meetings with us ensuring that she wants to drive us to success which allows me to trust her path,” Hogstrom said.
Hogstrom has a shorter golf season in Sweden compared to the United States and says that this new chapter is exciting.
“I’m excited to get the season started and to be able to start practicing again. For me it’s almost the biggest reason why I came here to the United States, which was getting to have a much longer season compared to what I get at home. It’s hard coming in during the season with a new team, but I think that Coach Gonzales will handle it well.”
Coach Gonzales has made it clear that she wants to make sure that her athletes have the best time at Baker while also being prepared for life post-graduation.
“My goal is to make this the best collegiate experience for every player in this program while building the most competitive and successful teams Baker has ever seen. I also want to help my players not just as golfers, but as people and leave them with a lifetime of memories.”
Gonzales’ first competition as head coach is March 9-10, when Baker golf will be hosting its home tournament at Eagle Bend in Lawrence, Kansas.