Rohanna to coach Waynesburg women’s golf team; will continue playing career
Little did Rachel Rohanna know a golf outing a couple months with Randy Pettit would transform into her first coaching position.
But, that鈥檚 how things worked out for the Waynesburg Central graduate when Pettit, Assistant Athletic Director, Strength & Conditioning Coach, Director of the Fitness Center at Waynesburg University, suggested she become the women鈥檚 coach at the university.
鈥淗e said this is far-fetched, but would you be interested in the women鈥檚 coaching job?鈥� explained Rohanna.
Rohanna initially balked at the suggestion, but, as she pondered the opportunity, she changed her mind and accepted the position.
鈥淚鈥檓 pretty excited about it,鈥� said Rohanna, quickly adding, 鈥淢y priority is to play on the tour. They reached out to me and offered me the opportunity I couldn鈥檛 turn down.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a good fit.鈥�
Rohanna harkened back to the coaches she鈥檚 played for and worked with, including her grandmother, Roseann Schwartz, long-time coach at Youngstown State.
She intends to be more than just a golf coach for her players.
鈥淚鈥檒l be mentoring them and help them not just on the golf course, but whatever else they need,鈥� said Rohanna. 鈥淭hey can use golf in other aspects of life.鈥�
As for her perspective, Rohanna said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 fun. I鈥檒l do some recruiting for girls that will be strong for the team and the conference. I鈥檓 excited about the recruiting part of it, recruiting local players in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia to benefit the program. I鈥檒l go to the WPIAL final, AJGA, junior golf tournaments, section matches.鈥�
Rohanna doesn鈥檛 plan to leave her full-time job anytime in the near future, a point she made sure her sponsors, notably 84 Lumber, understood.
鈥淚 have no plans on retiring on the actual golf side,鈥� said Rohanna.
Rohanna was a solid student as well as an outstanding golfer at Ohio State University. She understands the role academics has in a Division-III program.
鈥淭he golf part, I want to improve their games. We have the same offseason to work,鈥� said Rohanna. 鈥淲e can offer a lot of players a lot of opportunities academically, especially in nursing.
鈥淕iving yourself a good schedule, I loved that. The mindset is schooling is their main concern.
鈥淚t will open my eyes to a different perspective. That will be good for me.鈥�
Rohanna鈥檚 golf schedule generally runs from mid-March through mid-November, but she was assured assistance will be their to cover those times she鈥檚 on the course.
鈥淭hey made sure I knew that when I was adamant about not taking the job. There are multiple people on the staff who can jump in and help when I need it,鈥� said Rohanna.
Rohanna currently sits 48th on the Symetra Tour money list with $10,413 in nine events. The top 10 on the list at the end of the season automatically gain LPGA status, while the top 30 advance to the final level of Q school.
She鈥檚 off this week, but heads to Cincinnati early next week for the Symetra Tour鈥檚 Prasco Charity Classic on June 25-27.
Rohanna then expects to play in an LPGA event in the first week of July, the Volunteers of America Classic in Colony, Texas.