Dr. Catana R. Starks, Tennessee State University (TSU) golf coach and alumna, died on Sunday, September 6 at the age of 75. Dr. Starks, born in 1944, leaves behind a legacy of being the first African American woman to coach an all-men’s golf team at the collegiate level.
Starks, a Mobile, Alabama native, was a TSU alumnus and classmate of Olympic track great Wilma Rudolph. Coach Starks served the TSU men’s golf team from 1986 to 2005, leading the team to a National Minority Golf Championship, where the Tigers shot a record-setting 840, where this would be her final year as a coach.
During her time at TSU, she guided several players toward success, including Sean Foley, who was later a swing coach for Tiger Woods; Sam Puryear, who later became the first African American men’s head golf coach in any major conference; and Robert Dinwiddle, an all-American who later played on the European professional tour.
“The African American Golfer’s Digest” mourns the passing of Catana Starks, a woman who lived her life to the fullest doing what she loved most, helping others onto the grand stages of golf collegiately and professionally,” said, Debert Cook, AAGD publisher.
Starks earned her doctorate degree during her time as a coach, she also served as head of TSU’s Human Performance and Sports Sciences department. Reaching the pinnacle of success as a golf coach her efforts paved the way in helping to break down racial and gender barriers in a mostly white, male-dominated sport.
Golf My Future My Game Founder Craig Kirby said, “We have truly lost an extraordinary angle! Dr. Catana Starks was a prodigious role model and leader! She pioneered options and opportunity for future African American coaches and female coaches.”
MEMORIAL SERVICE DETAILS:
Visitation will be held on September 11 from 3:00pm-6:00pm and on September 12, from 9:3pam-11:00 am. The funeral is scheduled for September 12 at 11:00 AM and St. Ann Catholic Church.
Funeral services provided by Lewis & Wright Funeral Home, 2500 Clarksville Hwy, Nashville, TN 37208. Telephone 615-255-2371
She leaves to cherish her memories; spouse, Mallanese K. Wells-Starks; grandchildren, Devon Jr., Antony, Alyssa and Alfred Starks IV; sister, Amy Johnson. Walk thru of friends will be held on Friday, September 11th from 3-5:00 pm in Robert E. Lewis Memorial Chapel.
PGA of America President Suzy Whaley said, “Catana steered Tennessee State to capture the 2011 Minority Collegiate Golf Championship (now the PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship) in record-breaking fashion. She was one who said, ‘Why not?’ She coached people of all socio-economic backgrounds and recruited worldwide. Catana opened new doors to the game, and made it welcoming to all.”
“Her passion and love for collegiate golf, forever enshrined in the movie, ‘From the Rough’, captured her spirit and love for the next generation. From coaching Tiger Woods’ former coach, Sean Foley, to inspiring individuals of all races in their pursuit of a golf career, Catana Starks’ contribution to the game is immeasurable,” continued Whaley.
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The 2011 film “From The Rough” documented Starks’ trailblazing story in bringing hope and opportunity to inner-city youth and helping them reach their potential.
In 2014, Starks was inducted into the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame, and, in 2019, Starkes received an honor she would cherish for the rest of her life, as TSU honored Starks recognized her achievements during a special campus ceremony at the school.
In 1986, when TSU joined the Ohio Valley Conference former athletics director Bill Thomas dropped the school’s swimming program and added men’s golf. Starks was the school’s swim team coach at the time. The swim team was not sanctioned by the NCAA.
During her time as TSU’s golf coach, Starks guided several successful players including Canadian Sean Foley, who went on to become Tigers Woods’ swing coach, Sam Puryear, who became the first Black men’s head golf coach in a major conference (Michigan State, 2008) and is now the coach at Howard, and Robert Dinwiddie, who was an All-American at TSU and went on to become a member of the European Tour.
