Coach tapped to lead golf team

For 23 years the IU women's golf team has known only one coach. But following the conclusion of the 2003-04 season, legendary coach Sam Carmichael announced his retirement, leaving a void at the helm of the Hoosier program.\nOn Tuesday the athletics department appointed Clint Wallman as the team's new coach.\nWallman comes to Bloomington after a stint as an assistant coach for New Mexico, where he helped lead the Lobos' women's team to back-to-back NCAA Women's Golf Tournament appearances and now has the daunting task of replacing an IU coaching legend.\nDuring a 21-year span from 1984-2004, the Hoosiers placed among the top three in the Big Ten 17 times, the only school in the conference to boast such a string of consistency. During his tenure in Bloomington, Carmichael earned Big Ten Coach of the Year eight times, including last year's honor. \n"Having the opportunity to coach at Indiana is a dream come true," Wallman said. "There is a tremendous history associated with Hoosier golf, and I am very excited to continue the tradition of excellence which coach Carmichael began."\nWallman spent two seasons at New Mexico, where he was instrumental in the recent success of the Lobo program. Last season, New Mexico finished 15th at the NCAA Women's Golf Tournament and was nationally ranked in the top 10 for 33 consecutive weeks, garnering a ranking as high as third in the country last March. \nBefore his assistant coaching stint at New Mexico, Wallman served as a teaching professional at Indian Canyon Golf Club in Spokane, Wash., and operated his own golf school. During his time in the Pacific Northwest, Wallman earned a reputation for being one of the top golf instructors in the region.\nWallman is a four-time Inland Empire PGA Teacher of the Year (1996-98 and 2000), two-time Pacific Northwest PGA Teacher of the Year (1998-99) and the 1999 Pacific Northwest PING Clubfitter of the Year. Golf Digest and Golf Magazine have twice ranked Wallman among the Top 10 teachers in Washington, and in 2003, Golf Digest named Wallman among the Top 10 teachers in the region and top 50 in America. Wallman is also a frequent lecturer for PGA of America on teaching and development of video in teaching golf.\n"Clint's record as a player and assistant coach speaks for itself," IU Athletics Director Terry Clapacs said in a statement. "He comes from a New Mexico program that is annually among the best in the nation. More importantly, Clint has been recognized as one of the game's top teachers. He has made several presentations for PGA of America in teaching and the development of video in teaching golf. We are very fortunate to have Clint on board here at Indiana"