2026 tennessee state athletics
Hall of Fame

Dr. Catana Starks was a pioneering educator, coach and trailblazer whose impact on Tennessee State University and the game of golf extended far beyond competition. In 1986, Starks made history as the first African American woman to coach a men’s golf team at the NCAA Division I level when she was named head coach of Tennessee State’s newly established golf program. Over the next 20 seasons, she built the Tigers into a nationally recognized program while breaking barriers and creating opportunities for student-athletes from around the world. Her coaching career reached its pinnacle in 2005 when Tennessee State captured the National Minority Golf Championship, closing her final season with a championship performance and a team score of 840 that set a tournament record. Starks’ influence extended well beyond wins and championships, as she mentored future leaders in the sport, including Sean Foley, who later became Tiger Woods’ swing coach; Samuel Puryear Jr., who became the first African American men’s golf head coach at a Power Five institution; and Robert Dinwiddie, an All-American who advanced to the professional ranks in Europe. A Tennessee State graduate, Starks returned to her alma mater in 1980 as the Tigers’ swimming coach before transitioning to golf and simultaneously building an accomplished academic career. She earned her doctorate degree, served as a professor and eventually became chair of the Department of Human Performance and Sports Sciences. Her groundbreaking life story inspired the 2011 feature film From the Rough, starring Taraji P. Henson, bringing national attention to her perseverance, leadership and commitment to student-athlete success. Inducted into the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame in 2014, Dr. Catana Starks leaves a legacy as a barrier-breaking coach, respected educator and transformative figure in collegiate athletics whose influence continues to be felt throughout the sport of golf.