Belmont University women's golf head coach
Lissa Bradford announced her retirement Monday after spending nearly two decades leading the program.
"First of all, I want to thank Dr. Fisher, Mike Strickland, and Scott Corley for the wonderful opportunity they gave me to coach at Belmont," said Bradford. "Belmont is a special place and it has been a huge blessing for me to be a part of such an extraordinary group of student-athletes, coaches, faculty and staff. I will miss my daily interactions with these individuals, but I am excited about the future ahead for the university and the women's golf program."
"I want to personally thank Lissa for her contributions to Belmont University and our athletic program over the last 19 years," said Scott Corley, Belmont's Director of Athletics. "During her tenure, she elevated our women's golf program both on the course and in the classroom, served as a great role model for her players, and promoted the game with her work with the NCAA and the Women's Golf Coaches Association. She was a great representative of our University and athletic program and we will her presence in the department."
Bradford took over as the program's third head coach in 2001. Under her leadership, Belmont won six team championships, had seven golfers win a total of 12 individual titles, and finished in the top-six of the conference tournament nine times. The program also produced one conference Player of the Year and nine different players earned All-Conference honors.
Lissa also embraced Belmont's ideal of crafting true student-athletes as her program earned numerous academic honors. During her tenure, 15 golfers were named Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-American Scholars, while 49 golfers have earned academic honors from the Ohio Valley and Atlantic Sun Conferences. In addition, the program earned the NCAA's APR Recognition Award for 12 consecutive years.
During the past decade, Bradford has been recognized nationally for her service to collegiate golf. In December of 2010, she was given the Gladys Palmer Meritorious Service Award, the National Golf Coaches Association's (NGCA) most prestigious honor. Then, in 2011-12, she began a four year term as a member of the NCAA Women's Golf Committee. After her term was completed, she continued her work with the NCAA, serving as a rules official annually at NCAA regional and national championship events.
Most recently, in December of 2019, she received the Women's Golf Coaches Association's (WGCA) Kim Evans Award. This award is presented to the college or high school coach, and Class A PGA Professional, whose support of the game through teaching, coaching and involvement in the community has helped ensure the continued growth of the game of golf and represent the finest qualities the game has to offer.
A Nashville native, Bradford has known success both on and off the course on many levels. As a senior in high school at Nashville's Harpeth Hall, she won the TSSAA State High School Individual Championship. After her prep career, she was a four-year letterwinner at the University of Alabama. While playing for the Crimson Tide, she served as team captain for two years and was named to the Southeastern Conference All- Academic team. Also during this time, Lissa captured two Tennessee Women's Amateur Championships. Following her collegiate career, she served as an assistant professional at several country clubs throughout the South including two in the Nashville area: Belle Meade Country Club and the Gaylord Springs Golf Club. In 1995, she joined the Tennessee Golf Foundation.
Even though she is giving up her duties at Belmont, Bradford will continue in her role as Senior Director of Junior Golf for the Tennessee Golf Foundation, overseeing several junior golf programs.