Off the Course with Thomas Sutton
May 13, 2020 | Men's Golf
Assistant Coach Thomas Sutton joined the UW Coach Alan Murray's staff in 2017 and has since been integral in helping build the UW men's golf program. A former student-athlete himself, Sutton came from the University of Alabama at Birmingham as an assistant where he also was a fixture on the Blazers' roster from 2011-14. Murray and Sutton had a close relationship prior to the hire as he was Sutton's coach during his playing career.
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Get to know Sutton a little better in our latest Off the Course Q&A:
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What attracted you to joining the Washington staff?Β
Many things.Β Coaching alongside Coach Murray was the first attraction.Β He was my college coach and getting to work with him was an opportunity I did not want to turn down.Β After visiting Seattle and the campus at UW, the decision became a simple one. Β The athletic facilities, education, and history of success were a large cherry on top.
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What's your favorite thing about being a part of this program?
The guys on the team and having the opportunity to help them achieve success.
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What's your favorite golf memory with the Huskies?
It was at Hawaii this season at the Ka'anapali Collegiate and seeing how much our team had improved since last year. On the back nine this year we were in first place at 40-under par with some of the top teams in the country chasing us. The previous year, we were finishing in 13th place and 50 shots behind the leaders. Β This was with the same guys that played the year before, with the addition of our two freshmen. Their massive improvement from the year before was hard to measure for me until this moment. Watching the guys who came into this program 1-3 years ago and go through two tough years of poor finishes but who continued to put their head down and fight through it is one of the most rewarding feelings I have had here at UW.
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During your typical day, how do you interact with the student athletes?
During the season usually 5-6 times a week. Most of this is at practice and or tournaments.Β Depending on their schedule, some mornings, we will meet and talk over coffee about their golf/life/or school.Β In the winter months it will be 2-5 times a week.Β Depending on our practice schedule, I enjoy competing with them in other sports such as tennis, basketball, or ping pong.
If you were to sum up your job in a sentence, what would you say?
The opportunity to help men achieve their goals through building a culture of well-organized hard work.
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What was your first job?
I went to work for my uncle in his deli at 14 years old.Β Some days it involved everything from cooking/cleaning dishes/and waiting tables all at the same time.Β I did this for two summers and it is still the hardest most stressful job I have ever done.
Β
Who is someone that has impacted your career path?Β
I would say that would be three people.Β My uncle (John Sadie) was a golf coach and he made it possible for me to play college golf.Β Coach Alan Kaufman (UAB Golf Coach) gave me the opportunity to play at UAB even though I was significantly behind most junior players. He made such a big impact on my life that it made me want to do the same for others. Coach Alan Murray through his four years of coaching me and then hiring me to be his assistant for the first time at UAB. Β It would be hard to imagine what my future would have had if I did not have these people in my life
Β
How did you get into this career?Β
Coach Murray called me and hired me when I was still playing professional golf. At the time he called, I had not qualified for the Web.com though Q-school in my second year of Pro golf. During college, I thought a lot about the idea of coaching and I knew that I would want to coach at some point.Β I was so fortunate to get the opportunity so quickly, and it was one I did not want to pass up on.
Β Β
What's your favorite sport outside of golf at Washington?Β
My favorite sport to play would be volleyball.Β During this quarantine it is quickly becoming Pickle ball as there is a court down the street. Husky Football would be my favorite to watch.
Β
How does your position help the golf program?Β
My goal is to help Coach Murray with leading the program to success. These last few years that has consisted mainly of recruiting and player development. I hope to pass on any advice that was helpful for me and hope to help the guys recognize and avoid some of the mistakes that I made along the way when I was a student-athlete.
Β
What's your go to music when you work out?
Noah Woolsey has some great Spotify playlists. I will usually pick his "rapp" one. You should check him out. His username is nwooz17.Β I would also highly recommend his "Drivin'" playlist.
Β
Do you have any pets? And if so, names and kinds!
Unfortunately not.Β I would like a border collie at some point.
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Β
Get to know Sutton a little better in our latest Off the Course Q&A:
Β
What attracted you to joining the Washington staff?Β
Many things.Β Coaching alongside Coach Murray was the first attraction.Β He was my college coach and getting to work with him was an opportunity I did not want to turn down.Β After visiting Seattle and the campus at UW, the decision became a simple one. Β The athletic facilities, education, and history of success were a large cherry on top.
Β
What's your favorite thing about being a part of this program?
The guys on the team and having the opportunity to help them achieve success.
Β
What's your favorite golf memory with the Huskies?
It was at Hawaii this season at the Ka'anapali Collegiate and seeing how much our team had improved since last year. On the back nine this year we were in first place at 40-under par with some of the top teams in the country chasing us. The previous year, we were finishing in 13th place and 50 shots behind the leaders. Β This was with the same guys that played the year before, with the addition of our two freshmen. Their massive improvement from the year before was hard to measure for me until this moment. Watching the guys who came into this program 1-3 years ago and go through two tough years of poor finishes but who continued to put their head down and fight through it is one of the most rewarding feelings I have had here at UW.
Β
During your typical day, how do you interact with the student athletes?
During the season usually 5-6 times a week. Most of this is at practice and or tournaments.Β Depending on their schedule, some mornings, we will meet and talk over coffee about their golf/life/or school.Β In the winter months it will be 2-5 times a week.Β Depending on our practice schedule, I enjoy competing with them in other sports such as tennis, basketball, or ping pong.
If you were to sum up your job in a sentence, what would you say?
The opportunity to help men achieve their goals through building a culture of well-organized hard work.
Β
What was your first job?
I went to work for my uncle in his deli at 14 years old.Β Some days it involved everything from cooking/cleaning dishes/and waiting tables all at the same time.Β I did this for two summers and it is still the hardest most stressful job I have ever done.
Β
Who is someone that has impacted your career path?Β
I would say that would be three people.Β My uncle (John Sadie) was a golf coach and he made it possible for me to play college golf.Β Coach Alan Kaufman (UAB Golf Coach) gave me the opportunity to play at UAB even though I was significantly behind most junior players. He made such a big impact on my life that it made me want to do the same for others. Coach Alan Murray through his four years of coaching me and then hiring me to be his assistant for the first time at UAB. Β It would be hard to imagine what my future would have had if I did not have these people in my life
Β
How did you get into this career?Β
Coach Murray called me and hired me when I was still playing professional golf. At the time he called, I had not qualified for the Web.com though Q-school in my second year of Pro golf. During college, I thought a lot about the idea of coaching and I knew that I would want to coach at some point.Β I was so fortunate to get the opportunity so quickly, and it was one I did not want to pass up on.
Β Β
What's your favorite sport outside of golf at Washington?Β
My favorite sport to play would be volleyball.Β During this quarantine it is quickly becoming Pickle ball as there is a court down the street. Husky Football would be my favorite to watch.
Β
How does your position help the golf program?Β
My goal is to help Coach Murray with leading the program to success. These last few years that has consisted mainly of recruiting and player development. I hope to pass on any advice that was helpful for me and hope to help the guys recognize and avoid some of the mistakes that I made along the way when I was a student-athlete.
Β
What's your go to music when you work out?
Noah Woolsey has some great Spotify playlists. I will usually pick his "rapp" one. You should check him out. His username is nwooz17.Β I would also highly recommend his "Drivin'" playlist.
Β
Do you have any pets? And if so, names and kinds!
Unfortunately not.Β I would like a border collie at some point.
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