By Cherry Crayton
University Communications
Read the entire Campbell Proud: The women's golf team feature here
Title: Assistant Coach | Hometown: St. Petersburg, Florida | College: Stetson | Coaching career: Joined Campbell in August 2014 as an assistant coach | Age started playing: 12 | Notable: A two-time Atlantic Sun Conference All-Academic team member and earned Atlantic Sun All-Conference honors in 2011
How I was introduced to golf: "My parents both played recreationally. I got tired of sitting on the sidelines."
Why I stuck with golf: "As much as I love team sports, golf is all on you. You decide how everything is going to play out. There are no rules or officials to decide an outcome for your game. I like that I'm able to control the situation."
Why I got into coaching: "My coach at Stetson, Floyd Kerr, taught me a lot on and off the course. He had a major impact on me, and I wondered if I could have an impact on others."
How I ended up at Campbell: "Floyd and John Crooks have been friends for 20 years, maybe more. I had been talking to Floyd and told him if he hears anything to let me know. He called at the end of July and said John has a position. I called and talked to John. Within 2½ weeks I was here."
What I knew about Campbell in college: "Our coach always said Campbell was the team to be beat. We knew they were a good team."
How I'd describe team: "They are a lot of fun, and they work extremely hard. They know when to turn it on and to turn it off -- when to have fun and when to be competitive. This is a great group of girls. I've learned more from them than they've learned from me."
My role as the assistant coach: "I told them, 'I'm not here to change anything. If you want help, you let me know. If I see something, I'll be more than happy to help you.' When we're on the golf course, I try to help them stay in the moment but to relax and to remember why they're here."
A favorite Campbell moment: "It was exciting to watch them play those last three holes at regionals this year because they had worked so hard. I was with Brooke [Bellomy] on the last hole when she made birdie. Coach had told them the tournament was going to come down to the last three holes. To see them succeed for what they had worked so hard for was the greatest thing."
On Head Coach John Crooks: "He loves the game of golf and he loves to teach. There are some nights he doesn't sleep because he's worried about someone's swing or something pops in his head that will help a player. If anyone struggles, he thinks, 'What can I do to help her become better?' He simplifies things, and the simple things add up to big things."
Why I'm Campbell Proud: "The people I've met here have been genuine and nice, and they've opened their arms to me and helped me with anything I need. When I travel, I've heard nothing but great things about Campbell. It has a good reputation. I'm proud to be able to say I work for Campbell University."
Head Coach John Crooks on Ryan Ashburn: "Because of my age, there may be challenges the players face socially or off the golf course that I can't relate to. Ryan understands her role as a coach as someone who is there to help them, and she does that enthusiastically and with that right mix of 'We can do this and get the desired result' without being pushy or bossy. They appreciate her. Certainly she has been invaluable to me."
