Dale McNamara

Considered a pioneer in women's collegiate golf, Dale McNamara is one of the most successful coaches of any sport in history at the University of Tulsa. Before her coaching days, she was a seven-time state champion amateur golfer. During her 26-year union at TU, her teams won more than 70 tournaments, made more than 21 national tournament appearances and won four national championships.

Her teams won Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women titles in 1980 and 1982 and NCAA championship titles in 1982 and 1988.

She was honored as National Coach of the Year in 1985, the year her team won eight of 13 tournaments. She is a member of the National Collegiate Golf Hall of Fame and University of Tulsa Hall of Fame. Her coaching produced golf talents such as LPGA's Nancy Lopez and 27 first or second-team All-Americans, including her daughter Melissa, a former TU golf All-American.

She retired from coaching in 2000. Dale is a recipient of the 2003 Jim Thorpe Association's "Legends in Sports" award. She resides in Tulsa with her husband Jim. They have two grown daughters, Cathy and Melissa.