ELON – Susan Rosenstiel, who helped build Alabama into one of the nation's premier women's golf programs during more than two decades with the Crimson Tide, has been named Elon's women's golf head coach, Director of Athletics Jenn Strawley announced Thursday.
 
Rosenstiel arrives at Elon following 23 seasons as an assistant coach at Alabama, where she was part of the Crimson Tide's rise to national prominence. During Rosenstiel's time in Tuscaloosa, Alabama captured the 2012 NCAA Championship, won three Southeastern Conference titles and made 15 NCAA Championship appearances. The Crimson Tide also won 40 tournament titles during her tenure.
 
"I could not be more excited to welcome Susan to the Elon family," Strawley said. "She brings a coaching resume that speaks for itself and a proven record of winning at the highest level. But it was her deep commitment to developing young women, her genuine passion for teaching and coaching, and her authenticity that made it clear she was exactly the right person to lead our women's golf program. I cannot wait to see the impact she has on our student-athletes and on the Elon community."
 
Rosenstiel helped coach 36 All-Americans, 72 WGCA All-Scholar Athletes and 66 All-SEC selections at Alabama. She was part of the staff that guided Brooke Pancake and Emma Talley to Honda Award National Player of the Year honors, with Talley also winning the 2015 NCAA individual championship. Thirteen golfers coached by Rosenstiel at Alabama went on to earn LPGA Tour cards, and Stephanie Meadow became the first player Rosenstiel coached to compete in the Olympics, representing Ireland in 2016, 2020 and 2024.
 
Rosenstiel was named the 2010 National Assistant Coach of the Year by the National Golf Coaches Association. She also served as an assistant coach for the United States team at the Arnold Palmer Cup in Évian-les-Bains, France. Rosenstiel's resume additionally includes time on staff at the University of Florida and as an assistant golf professional. She played collegiately at both Tennessee (1992-94) and Florida (1994-97), garnering Academic All-America and Academic All-SEC accolades as a Gator.
 
Rosenstiel will officially begin her tenure with the Phoenix on March 1, 2027, following the completion of her vested service requirements in the University of Alabama System. As part of her staff, longtime Alabama women's golf head coach Mic Potter has been named assistant coach and will serve as Elon's interim head coach through Feb. 28, 2027. Rosenstiel worked alongside Potter for all 21 seasons of his Alabama tenure (2005-26).
 
"I am humbled and honored to be joining the incredible staff of Elon University," Rosenstiel said. "From the first phone calls with Jeffrey Scheible and Jenn Strawley, I knew that this was where I wanted to be coaching. That was solidified when my husband, Tommy, and I stepped foot on campus and the surrounding community. I want to thank Jenn, Jeffrey, President Book and Don Hill for their interest in me and for entrusting me with leading the Phoenix women's golf program into this next chapter. I am thrilled to also have Hall of Famer Mic Potter joining me as my assistant coach."
 
Potter, a National Golf Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee, brings one of the most decorated head coaching careers in college women's golf history to Elon. In 43 seasons as a Division I head coach, including 21 at Alabama and 22 at Furman, Potter won more than 70 tournaments and led his teams to national prominence at both stops. He was named WGCA National Coach of the Year in 2012 and 2018 and was a six-time SEC Coach of the Year honoree with the Crimson Tide.
 
Rosenstiel's arrival begins a new era for Elon women's golf following the retirement of longtime head coach Chris Dockrill, who led the program since 1999.
 
Rosenstiel is a graduate of the University of Florida, where she earned a bachelor's degree in agriculture, food and resource economics in 1997 and a master's degree in exercise and sports science in 1999. She and her husband, Tommy, have two children, Henry and Elizabeth. Potter is a 1977 graduate of Cortland State University. He and his wife, Kim, have two sons, Ryan and Corey, two granddaughters, Anna and Caroline, and a grandson, Maddox.
 
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT ROSENSTIEL
Mic Potter, Elon Women's Golf Assistant Coach and former Alabama Women's Golf Head Coach (2005-26)
"I could not be more pleased that Susan has earned the opportunity to be named the next women's golf head coach at Elon. She has held the women's golf program at Alabama together for the past 21 years. Susan's organizational and communication skills are unmatched, and she is a perfectionist in everything that she does. Susan has a knack for coaching elite players, especially in the areas of pitching, chipping and putting. She is brilliant on the course when walking with and guiding players through their rounds. Susan has been a parent away from home for our players at Alabama. She is a trusted confidante and listener. I look forward to supporting Susan in this new role. I know she will do great things!"
 
Amy Bond, Florida State Women's Golf Head Coach
"Susan Rosenstiel is one of the best coaches in the country, an exceptional human being, and an unbelievably great hire for Elon. She has a proven record of success at both the conference and national level which includes having won a National Championship. She is a player's coach and one who knows how to get the absolute best out of every athlete she coaches. Susan will encourage, support, and inspire all of the student-athletes she comes in contact with and I have no doubt they will be successful both on and off the course. She knows the value of hard work, and I am excited to see what she can do as a head coach of Elon University women's golf."
 
Emma Talley Smith, Western Kentucky Women's Golf Assistant Coach and 2015 NCAA Individual Champion at Alabama
"Coach Susan was so much more than a coach to me. She was a mother figure and a home away from home. She made our entire team feel like family. No matter what was going on, I knew I could count on her support, guidance, and encouragement both on and off the golf course. The players who get the opportunity to play for her are so lucky. She will make them better golfers, but more importantly leave school better people. She pushes you to be your best, celebrates your successes, helps you through challenges, and teaches lessons that last far beyond your college years. I am forever grateful for the impact she had on my life and for the time I spent playing for her. I have no doubt she is going to do amazing things as a head coach at Elon University. Any program would be fortunate to have her leading it."
 
Don Hill, Elon Director of Golf and Men's Golf Head Coach
"Susan Rosensteil is exactly the kind of person you want leading a golf program. She brings great energy, passion and is extremely detailed in her approach every day. Susan has true knowledge of college golf and what it takes to compete at the highest level. I look forward to working alongside her on a daily basis pushing our program to new heights."
 
THE ROSENSTIEL FILE
Personal
Birthday: June 5
Hometown: North Fort Myers, Florida
Education: Florida, 1997 (bachelor's); Florida, 1999 (master's)
Spouse: Tommy
Children: Henry, Elizabeth
 
Coaching Experience
2003-26: Alabama (assistant coach)
2026-present: Elon (head coach)
 
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