Cardinal Perspectives Golf Coach - Ed Dolan

Welcome to Cardinal Perspectives, a series featuring in-depth conversations with alumni, students, faculty, staff and the extended family and community of The Catholic University of America.

We are pleased to introduce this episode of Cardinal Perspectives featuring Ed Dolan, head coach for both women’s and men’s golf, and James Higgins, assistant director of leadership annual giving for Athletics.

Ed Dolan is in his ninth season leading the Cardinals, after being hired in 2017 when Catholic reinstated men’s golf and launched women’s golf for the first time. Under his guidance, Catholic’s golf teams have reached historic heights, with the women’s squad claiming four Landmark Conference championships—including three straight—and multiple NCAA Championship appearances, while the men’s team secured its first Landmark Conference title and made its inaugural NCAA Tournament appearance. Dolan’s leadership has earned him multiple conference Coach of the Year honors and helped develop numerous All-Landmark and academic honorees across both programs.

A PGA professional with more than 20 years of experience, Dolan brings deep expertise as a teacher and competitor to his role, having been voted the No. 1 Teacher in Maryland by Golf Digest and serving at prestigious golf facilities throughout his career.
 

_{*This transcript is based on an audio recording and has been lightly edited for readability. It reflects the substance of the conversation but may not be a verbatim record.}

James
Hello, my name is James Higgins and I'm here today with head golf coach, Ed Dolan. Ed, thanks for joining us this morning.

You're in your ninth year coaching here at Catholic University, starting in the spring of 2018. Is there a particular moment that stands out to you from your time here?

Ed 
Wow. Nine years has just been a blink. I can't believe it.

There are so many great moments, James, but I'd have to just go right off the top of my head and think of last year at the Conference championship. Down by four or five shots with just four or five holes to go, and to pull it out and to tie,  and then to win in a playoff.

That was one of the greatest moments I've had in sports. It was just a thrill. Filled with many, but that would be the competitive, just absolute highlight – tied, last hole heroics. It was just great.

James
It's unbelievable, and especially punching the ticket to the NCAA tournament, too. Not just winning a tournament or winning just a Conference tournament with nothing after that. That's pretty special, even though it happened last year as compared to sometime earlier. So that's definitely awesome to look back on.

Ed
What's neat about Division III golf is that, if we win our Conference championship, we go directly to the Nationals and that's the thrill of a lifetime.

There's a lot riding on those moments, so we were happy to pull it out.

James
You talked about this already, but last year, winning that playoff, the women's team secured their third consecutive Landmark Conference championship. And obviously the program has only been around for nine years, as we've talked about, but during that short amount of time, how do you sustain that competitive level of success in winning?

Ed
We're lucky here at Catholic University. We can attract talented players and then, if we can get talented players with common goals and just steer them in the right direction, we've been fortunate. But it all comes down to the players. The student-athletes and their willingness to put in the time and then make the sacrifices that it takes.

That's how we try to do it.

James
And that's a great pivot to our next question. Lauren Lombardo won the Most Outstanding Senior Athlete Award last year. And she played an instrumental role in the playoff and Nationals, as well.

What did that mean to you as her coach and the women's golf program overall?

Ed
Oh, everything. Anytime one of your top players or one of the best players in the history of the program can be recognized by her peers. It puts them on the map of importance. That's what Lauren did for us, and is doing now as our graduate assistant.

Validation is great as athletes, or anything we do. I’m just so proud of Lauren, what she's done. She really brought us into a competitive element.

James
And I think that speaks to the culture that you built, that she immediately came back as the grad assistant. Not every program has an alumna that comes back right away, but you've had multiple that have come back immediately upon graduating, and haven't had to hire from the outside.

I think that speaks to the culture that you've built in a short time and the sustained excellence of winning.

Ed
It's nice to have people that are already familiar with what we do and how we do it, and the language that we use. We've been lucky there.

James
Looking back at the eight years, going into nine that you've had now, what are your hopes for the team's development and success under your leadership?

Ed
You always want to win. Every coach will say that. Golf tournaments are not always in your control. Just sticking to the plan and staying in our process, going through the basics over and over, and that's what the game of golf requires. So just sticking to our basics.

James
I would say that highlights consistency and accountability, and I think those are two big things that, in sports nowadays, might be lost. Everyone wants to be told they're doing well or the constructive criticism isn't always taken. But staying with that process and being consistent  is hugely important and it holds the student-athletes accountable to their performance, as well.

Ed
It's so true. The ball doesn't lie. So it is up to you to create your results. Accountability – if you don't have that as a golfer, it'll be a tough sport to play.

James
Switching gears a little bit here to the alumni piece of it.

You've been here for nine years. The program was around for a brief time back in the seventies and eighties, so we can touch on both sets of alumni. Do you have a story that highlights the ongoing connection between the alumni of the golf program and the team here currently?

Ed
Like you said, there are two pieces. We have the Carey brothers [Paul and Mike] from the seventies we're bringing back what they left for us. And the other alumni, now we have our recent alumni. And you touched on it in one of your questions – we've been fortunate to utilize the graduates in our alumni to run our team.

Starting out with Kelly Wright, who was a volunteer assistant, and then Mary Colella, who was a champion player – she was a GA for us. And Kaleigh McDonald, now Lauren Lombardo… Ian Clarke also played for us. Keeping everyone involved right in what we're doing or keeping those players involved is just awesome. It really helps put those bricks in the wall.

James
The scope is different at a Division III compared to Division I or other Division IIs where you have experience at. But what are some meaningful ways that alumni can give back, not only to the golf program, but to Catholic Athletics in general?

Ed
Anything they can do. Giving is different for every person. It could be coming to our tournaments. It could be following us on Instagram or just giving us well wishes. Of course, the financial support is nice to help us with our other endeavors, because it's an expensive sport, but any type of outreach. And we've gotten a lot from our alumni, which is important because it makes us feel good and gives alumni pride in what they left here after they graduated.

James
And I think having the GA being an alumna is super crucial to that as well. Keeping the alumni involved, having those ties, knowing not only the players on the team, but recent alumni that they played with, and keeping them tied in as well.

Ed
It's great for our brand, the brand of the school, and just the unity of Catholic University. That's the spirit here. It's a great community.

James
Touching on, I guess this goes back to alumni and current student-athletes. Are there any particular strategies that you use to help players thrive as both athletes and individuals when talking about team culture or performance?

Ed
Like I said, when you have talented individuals, it's just a matter of trying to build their self image, their confidence. A great player is even better when they're confident. So whatever we can do to try to help them find what's possible for them and to encourage them to reach for greatness. And that carries everywhere.

James
That's excellent.

Are there any values or attitudes that are most important to you in shaping your team's culture year over year?

Ed
The game of golf has this certain spirit. The spirit of the game is play the ball where it lies, leave the course better than you once found it or better. That covers everything.

You leave whatever you're doing better than when you started. That's the campus, that's your friendships, your teams, and then also, golf. The ball bounces in different ways. Sometimes it goes your way, sometimes it doesn't. So the understanding that you still have to play it is a lesson for all of us.

Things aren't always going to go your way. And if they don't, how will you deal with it and make sure you’re equipped to handle the challenges? That's the most important thing for us.

James
Great life mottos and lessons, as well. Sometimes you might hit a perfect shot, but the greens might be rolling fast and it might skid on by and there's nothing you can do about it. It doesn't bounce your way. And if I had a dollar for every time you said, leave it better than the way you found it, I might be the richest man.

It is also a great life motto. Leave everything, not just the golf course or facilities, but leave everything better than the way you found it and you'll end up better for yourself. And those around you will also end up better than they started as well.

Ed
Guaranteed recipe for success. If every single person does that, then we're going to have a great university, great community, great team, great society. It goes everywhere.

James
In your view, what are the lasting benefits of competing at the collegiate level?

Ed
Touching on a little bit of what we already did, it's not always gonna go your way in tournament play, right? Golf is a difficult game. So it's really learning how to tackle adversity, right? And how to face up to the moments where it might not be going your way. But also to embrace when it is going your way and to be gracious in your fortune.

James
Kind of staying on that level plane and not getting too high or too low. The game rewards that.

Ed
The game of golf rewards keeping in that way.

James
It's kind of like a car, it's kind of like life. It's kinda like karma – you don't get too high, don't get too low, and eventually, good things happen to good people.

Ed
It is. That's the sport. It's a lifetime sport, what we say is there's not a lot to learn about the game of golf. But what there is to learn takes a lifetime.

That one's tricky. Meaning you have an entire lifetime to over and over hone these skills, and it teaches you outside of the game.

James
Going off that answer, what have you learned most from coaching here at Catholic University from coaching these student-athletes?

Ed
Possibly, it's easy to attempt to size up someone's capabilities and think this is where they're going to be going. Some will live up to it and even more, and then some will surprise you. So never put a label on anyone. Just continue to nurture their skill and feed them with positivity and let their confidence and their positive self-image grow. They can reach tremendous goals or tremendous heights.

Don't put limits on anyone.

James
Don't judge a book by its cover.

Ed
That's true, too.

James
Last one here as we wrap up. Since Kevin joined the department in June of 2023, a lot has been accomplished overall for Catholic Athletics. What's something on the horizon for Catholic Athletics that you think will make a big impact, either for your program or just the department in general?

Ed
I think it's everybody, the people here. Knowing the staff members, they’re talented. We have great coaches focused and determined. And then the school itself, our brand attracts high-character, very talented athletes. With those two things together, great leadership, great talent, great attitudes from the student-athletes, I think we're just waiting to burst at the seams.

I think that we could continue to be a dominant force in the Landmark and in our region. So everything… it's an exciting time for Catholic Athletics.

James
Absolutely. We'll look out for the golf team here this upcoming spring season that kicks off soon. For Coach Ed Dolan, this is James Higgins.

Thank you for joining us today.