By
Audrey DeAnda
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Allen takes over defending national champions
When the UA approached Greg Allen a second time to offer him a coaching position, he knew he couldn't say no.
Athletic director Jim Livengood had asked Allen three years ago to fill the shoes of the assistant golf coaching position, but the timing wasn't right for the then-University of Texas assistant. Allen turned the job down.
With the departure of women's golf head coach Todd McCorkle to the University of Georgia during the summer, Allen had another chance to take over the reigning national champions.
"I knew it was hard enough telling Jim Livengood no once, so I didn't want to do it again," Allen said. "I'm a big believer that things happen for a reason."
Allen, an assistant for the Longhorn men's golf program, led UT to a fifth place finish in the NCAA Central Region championship.
With the women's program on a eight tournament winning streak - the Wildcats haven't lost one since October 1999 - Allen said he won't make many changes to this year's team.
"Like the old saying goes, 'if it's not broke, don't fix it,'" Allen said. "It's a blessing to come into a program that's already at the top."
What Allen wants to bring to the team is a great attitude.
"I want everyone to feel a part of the team whether they're No. 1 or No. 10," Allen said. "To me, I'm looking at this team as an extension of my family."
Livengood said Allen will be a great addition to both the women's golf team as well as UA athletics in general.
"He's the best young golf coach in America," Livengood said. "He comes to us with great experience in recruiting. He will keep the program in great shape."
With Allen following in the footsteps of McCorkle, who led the Wildcats to capture the Pacific 10 Conference and NCAA West Regional Championships in 1999 and 2000, there is significant pressure to stay on top.
"Everyone says 'you're at the top, and the only place to go is down,'" Allen said. "But I think pressure is what you make out of it. I've got 10 girls that can flat-out play."
Though junior Cristina Baena - one of the five starters who led the Wildcats to the national championship last year - hasn't gotten to know her new coach, she thinks the addition of Allen will help the team maintain their level of success.
"We have a lot of great things ahead of us. We had a great year last year," Baena said. "I think (Allen) will be good for us - a nice change."
