Former Lobo Kristi Albers says that when her playing career is finished on the LPGA Tour, she might be interested in a different line of work - coaching collegiate golf.
"I think I'd have a lot to offer the girls," said the 16-year tour veteran. "Plus, it would be lots of fun for me too."
But there's a glitch: Albers, who spent four years in the Cherry and Silver in the early 1980s, didn't earn a degree, which prohibits her from coaching at the NCAA level.
"I kick myself every day for not graduating," she said in a recent telephone interview from this week's tour stop in Illinois. "I'm actually thinking now that I'd like to go back to school."
Albers said she wouldn't rule out returning to UNM to finish college, but added that her professional playing days are far from over.
Though Albers, 39, took up golf later in life than many other professionals - she started playing at age 14 in her hometown of El Paso, Texas - she was a quick study.
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An El Paso-area professional introduced her to then-Lobo coach Henry Sandles, who she says "is probably the biggest reason I'm out here (on Tour)," and Albers was off to the races.
By her sophomore year, she was All-Conference, an honor she would receive twice more. And in 1984-85, she was a first-team All American.
It was that year, 1984, that Albers learned how good she could be, winning the New Mexico State Invitational, the New Mexico Amateur Championship and the Dick McGuire Invitational.
"Before then, I really didn't know if I had that kind of potential," she said. "After that, it all just kind of came together."
The learning curve was equally quick for her once arriving on the professional scene.
Albers improved her position on the money list in each of her first eight seasons on tour, capping the run in 1993 with her only tour victory at the Sprint Classic.
"That week was incredible," she said. "Every putt I looked at seemed like it was going in."
Despite back surgery the following year that slowed her down a little, and the birth of her son two years ago, Albers has had enough solid seasons on tour to put her 54th on the all-time money list, with more than $2 million in career earnings.
Along with Sandles, she credits the always-difficult UNM Championship Course for getting her ready to play pro golf.
"I miss that course," Albers said. "And the Mexican food in Albuquerque. I loved living there - it was a lot like home."
Though she doesn't return to the Duke City often, Albers said she might be back soon. Sandles, she said, has been trying to get her to help him with a local program called First Tee, which helps inner city kids get involved in golf.
Marriage, motherhood and the future possibility of coaching aside, Albers says she's not quite ready to give up golf just yet.
"I still want to play, I still love it," she said. "Plus, I still think I can win out here."
