Texas State's newest intercollegiate sport has been on the fast track to success since Dacia Mackey became the program's architect and only head coach. In four seasons, Mackey has led the Bobcats to a Southland Conference Women's Golf Championship and a pair of runner-up finishes at the league tournament.
In addition to her teams' success, Mackey has coach an All-Southland Conference performer each of the program's four seasons. This year she returns 2005 All-SLC standout Danielle Mask.
Out of the gates, Mackey's first year was nothing short of amazing as the Bobcat women captured the SLC Championship in the program's first season. Mackey was named the Southland Conference's Coach of the Year in 2002 after guiding Texas State to the conference title.
With only one top-five team finish during the spring of her first season and coming off a poor outing just prior to the conference tournament, Mackey turned the team's focus to three rounds in Beaumont. The Bobcats went out and dominated in the school's first conference tournament, had three players finish in the top five and won the championship by 11 strokes.
In 2003, Mackey guided the Bobcats to another successful spring season, as the team finished just three strokes behind the champion at the SLC championship. The 'Cats were strong all season placing in the Top Five at both the Bronc Intercollegiate Classic and the Oral Roberts Women's Invitational.
In 2004, Texas State had a pair of top-three team finishes before posting a runner-up finish at the SLC Championship for the second straight year. Again the Bobcats had two players finish among the top five and finished second to Sam Houston State by one stroke.
Texas State had five of the Southland Conference's top 10 individual rounds during the 2004 spring season.
Mackey put together a strong signing class during the past off season and her newcomers have already excelled on the course. Freshman Christine Brijalba won a fall tournament in her first semester with the Bobcats.
Prior to her arrival at Texas State, Mackey served as an assistant golf professional/player assistant at Sammons Golf Course in Temple. Her duties included assisting the general manager, managing tournaments and the pro shop.
Mackey also served as assistant golf professional at Lago Vista and Highlands Lakes Golf Clubs in Lago Vista. At Lago Vista, Mackey assisted with tournament coordination and golf clinics and also gave individual and group lessons.
Mackey graduated from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in 2000 with a degree in Exercise and Sports Science. She earned a spot on the vice president's honor roll.
She has also graduated from Texas State, receiving a Master's of Education Degree with an emphasis in Sports Management/Athletic Administration in December, 2003.
Mackey earned four letters at MHB and garnered numerous individual honors including Most Improved Player and American Southwest Conference First-Team All-Conference. She was also a four-year NAIA National Qualifier and a member of the 2000 NAIA Women's National Championship team.
Mackey did not begin playing golf until her freshman year of high school but was a quick study, lettering and being selected first-team all-district all four years.
Mackey is currently serving a term as the Chair of Women's Golf for the Southland Conference.
She also has memberships in the United States Golf Association, Ladies Professional Golf Association, Golf Coaches Association of America, College Golf Fellowship, GolfPsych Surfrider Foundation and the Temple Bible Church.
