In this episode of College Golf Today, host Kelly Okun speaks with Heather Fortushniak, the Head Women’s Golf Coach at Oakland University.
Heather shares how she went from a player at Kansas State to coaching at the Division I level overnight. Aspiring coaches can glean fantastic advice from her story and tips she learned along the way.
Heather has led Oakland to back-to-back conference championships, and she offers us insights into her winning formula. From caring about her players as people to mental game nights to curating the right culture that peaks at the right time competitively, Heather’s track record and personal definition of success prove she’s a bright star to watch as she begins her legacy in coaching college golf.
Chapters:
[00:26] Meet Heather Fortushniak: From Star Player to Winning Division 1 Coach
[00:44] Heather’s Coaching Origin Story
[01:50] Fast-track to Coaching Division 1 Golf
[02:37] Bringing the Player Perspective to Coaching
[04:17] Defining Success Beyond Scores
[05:50] Building Culture and Team Standards
[09:16] Peaking at the Conference Championship
[11:17] Visualization and Tournament Strategy
[13:22] Post-season Prep and Regional Goals
[15:45] How the NCAA Selection Works
[17:39] NIL and Transfer Portal
[19:34] Advice for New and Aspiring Coaches
