Coaching legend finishes his career

Just a few months after losing IU soccer coach Jerry Yeagley to retirement, IU must say goodbye to another coaching legend.\nThe IU athletics department announced on its Web site Wednesday that Sam Carmichael's 2003-04 season as IU women's golf coach would be his last.\nCarmichael, an eight-time Big Ten Coach of the Year, concluded his 23rd season as IU women's golf coach this season and boasts four NCAA Regional Coach of the Year honors.\n"Coaching at Indiana has been very rewarding," Carmichael said. "I have had the opportunity to teach and be involved with a lot of outstanding student athletes." \nCarmichael's tenure at IU began in 1981 when he assumed the women's head coaching duties. \nThe Hoosiers won seven Big Ten Championships in the last 19 years under Carmichael and placed in the top three every year he was coach. IU's seven conference titles rank second in the Big Ten with only Ohio State winning more, claiming 10 conference crowns.\nCarmichael served as both the men's and women's coach for nine years before devoting his attention solely to the women's team in 1998. During his abbreviated stint as the men's coach, Carmichael won two Big Ten titles and two Big Ten Coach of the Year awards in 1991 and 1998.\n"The memories I will remember are of those players who worked hard and were rewarded for the efforts by becoming individual champions or members of teams that achieved success," Carmichael said.\nCarmichael's women's teams have earned automatic berths to the NCAA Tournament eight times since 1981. The Hoosiers finished 11th in 1985, 12th in 1986, 13th in 1987, 11th in 1990, 13th in 1992, eighth in 1993, 17th in 1994, fifth in 1995 and 13th in 1998.\nEight Hoosiers earned All-American honors during Carmichael's tenure, including most recently senior Karen Dennison, who earned first-team honors in 2003 becoming only the third Hoosier golfer to earn first-team All-American honors.\n"I came in as a freshman and he changed my swing right away," Dennison said. "I'd like to say he's the one that turned me into an All-American."\nIn 1987 Carmichael was named Indiana PGA Teacher of the Year and NCAA National Coach of the Year. He also won the National Golf Coaches Association's Gladys Palmer Award in 1994, Indiana Teacher of the Year in 1998 and was named the 1999 Professional of the Year by the Indiana PGA. \n"He has so much knowledge of the game and he's a great teacher," senior Ambry Bishop said. "I think everyone who comes to IU has felt the same. We all really appreciate everything he has done for us. A lot of great players have came through IU and he really developed the program and it wouldn't be where it is today without him."\nCarmichael's influence with his players far exceeded their time on the golf course. The Hoosiers program earned a Big Ten record 96 Academic All-Big Ten honors.\nThe players also point to the coach's personality as a reason for the team's strong camaraderie. \n"In the four years I was here, we all got along really well," Bishop said. "He went to some nice places and got to do a lot of traveling. Coach made sure we all had fun. He did the best he could for us and we are all grateful."\nCarmichael's light-hearted approach was a main reason for the Hoosiers' success and will have a lasting effect on those he coached, Dennison said.\n"Coach is just fun all around. He's fun traveling, fun at practice," Dennison said. "He's just been great for women's golf. It'll be sad to see him go, but there's no doubt he'll have a lasting effect on the game."\n-- Contact sports editor Matt Glenesk at mglenesk@indiana.edu.