By Steven Shaff, ASsistant AD for Sports Information
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Diane Aguer volunteered to help coach the golf team when her daughter Kristy attended St. Francis. A year later, she took on the head coach role and led the program to an unprecedented run of success that led her selection in the first Athletics Hall of Fame class.
"I just started giggling," said Aguer about the moment she learned about her selection. "It brought back all the memories. I immediately got all the scrapbooks out."
There was a lot to document and the Aguer's famous scrapbooks highlight a special time in Troubie golf including lots of fun, trophies and trips to Bodega Bay for team outings.
Aguer led the Troubadours to a stretch six Sac-Joaquin Section titles from 1997-2001 (Spring 1997, Spring 1998, Spring 1999, Fall 1999, Fall 2000, Fall 2001) and five CIF Northern California Regional team titles (Spring 1998, Spring 1999, Fall 1999, Fall 2000, Fall 2001).
"It was amazing the time we had together and all the things we did," said Aguer.
When she started, the Troubies were playing against the boys. There was not girl's golf back then.
"I loved it in the beginning when we played the boys," said Aguer. "I remember walking to the ninth green the first time we beat them. It was against Sacramento High at Bing Maloney. I had lots of rules, including acknowledging your opponent at the beginning and end of the match. They could not acknowledge the boys at the end of the match because they boys were not responding."
Today the championships are recognized by banners in the school gymnasium, showcasing the golf dominance in the Sacramento area and Northern California during her tenure.
"It was so fun to see the girls and we had many cute stories," said Aguer. "I enjoyed working with them."
While the championships were a bye product of her coaching, Aguer preached the rules of the game.
"My main concern was to enjoy golf and be a team member, learn the etiquette of golf and be respected out there," said Aguer. "Every Monday we had a rules clinic. They were really into golf."
The Troubies were recognized as the first local girl's golf program and eventually more schools added the sport. They dominated local play, keeping the section and CIF Northern California titles in the SF trophy case on an annual basis.
The team won their first section titles in 1997 (with Aguer as an assistant) and then again in 1998 and 1999. They were playing as a spring sport in those years but the CIF changed the season to the fall in 1999. No problem for St. Francis, they just kept playing and won titles again in 1999, 2000 and 2001.
"We played a lot of golf over that stretch," said Aguer.
Winning the section titles led to NorCal berths and the Troubadours won five straight titles. The CIF had not established a state title at that point so the NorCal title was their goal each season.
Aguer was recognized as the 2000 Sacramento Bee Coach of the Year and coached standouts Kim Welch '01 and Sarah Huarte '00. Welch won the 2000 section title and Huarte and Welch won back-to-back NorCal titles in 1999 and 2000, respectively.
Aguer stepped away from the program in 2001 but the game has not left her life. She still plays twice a week in her ladies club and weekends at Bodega Bay. She also is a mentor to new players at Haggin Oaks, working at the request of her former assistant Tom Morton. She spends time with her Troubie daughter, Christy, and her family. With her husband, Tom, they are proud grandparents to Samantha and Jillian.
It was not her plan to coach the golf team but the experience left her with many happy memories. And now she is part of a special group as the first coach in the Athletics Hall of Fame.
Aguer will be inducted as part of the inaugural Hall of Fame Class on November. 17 at 6 p.m. For tickets to the dinner banquet in the St. Francis Gymnasium, click here.
