Sam Lesseig

Head Women's Golf Coach

Sam Lesseig enters the 2006-07 season as the only head coach in the 21-year history of the Truman women's golf program. He was named head coach in 1985 after helping a motivated group of golfers initiate the program.

"I didn't actually start the program," stated Lesseig. "A group of young ladies approached me about helping them establish women's golf as a varsity sport. I just wrote a few letters. They did all the work."

Throughout his tenure at the helm, Lesseig has seen many changes in Division II women's golf, but he still enjoys seeing his golfers challenge themselves.

"It is very satisfying to see young people set a goal and work toward the goal. Sometimes they achieve it and sometimes they fail, but at least they know that they put forth the effort necessary to accomplish their goal," Lesseig said.

With that philosophy, Lesseig has coached two all-Americas and 14 academic all-Americas while leading the Bulldogs to 11 postseason appearances at the National Golf Coaches Association Division II National Championships and the NCAA Division II and III Women's Golf Championships. In 1999-2000, four members of the team were named to the NGCA all-academic team, the most in school history.

In 1996, the NGCA championships were replaced with the NCAA Division II and III event, before 2000, when Division II began holding its own championships. The Bulldogs qualified as a team for the inaugural NCAA meet and have sent at least one player for nationals in four of the last seven years.

Many of his former players are still active in golf and a few are employed through the sport.

"There are two who are club pros, one who works in golf sales, and a couple who still compete in amateur tournaments," added Lesseig. "I enjoy seeing former players who are still interested in golf."

Lesseig served on the NCAA Women's Golf Committee for a total of nine years and was Truman's interim athletics director during the 1988-89 school year.

Lesseig has been a mathematics professor at Truman since 1963. In 1961, he received a bachelor's degree from Fort Hays State University (Kan.), and in 1963, he earned a master's degree from Kansas State University.

He and his wife, Dee, have three children. Sons Vance ('87) and Corey ('89) both competed for the men's golf team at Truman, while his daughter Kristen ('88) was a two-time academic all-America for the women's squad.