Upcoming Event: Women's Golf versus Reynolds Lake Oconee Invitational on February 20, 2026
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Women's Golf
vs Reynolds Lake Oconee Invitational
South Dakota State University Athletics
Women's Golf
Casey VanDamme
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- Casey.VanDamme@sdstate.edu
Immediate impact. Those two words has described Casey VanDamme’s four seasons as South Dakota State’s Director of Golf.
Since VanDamme’s arrival, he has coached seven all-league selections, mentored all-academic performers and the Jackrabbits have rewritten the record book. He has also upgraded and transformed the Jackrabbits’ regular-season schedule.
VanDamme has coached three first-team All-Summit League selections, four second-team all-league picks and two all-tournament honorees in the last three years.
In the classroom, Sydney MacDonald earned Summit League All-Academic accolades and 15 Jackrabbits have also been named to The Summit League Academic Honor Roll and 17 to The Summit League Commissioner’s List of Academic Excellence since VanDamme came to State.
In the SDSU record book, the Jacks set the 18-, 36- and 54-hole records, the single-season record for stroke average, rounds and top-five, top-10 and top-25 finishes. On the career chart, school records for stroke average, rounds and top-five, top-10 and top-25 finishes fell. Megan Mingo finished her career under VanDamme with the lowest single-season stroke average (74.46) and career stroke average (76.73). As a team, the Jackrabbits set the 18-, 36- and 54-hole records and posted the lowest single-season team scoring average (299.61) in 2016-17.
South Dakota State moved from playing most of its regular-season tournaments within the region against regional opponents after VanDamme’s arrival. The Jackrabbits thrived, winning 10 titles, including five in 2016-17, the second-most in the NCAA. They have also played in Nevada four times, Utah and Arizona three times, Florida twice and in events in Oregon, Tennessee, Hawaii and New Mexico.
What They're Saying About New South Dakota State’s Director of Golf Casey VanDamme
Joining the Jackrabbits family in July 2014, VanDamme guided SDSU to a third-place finish at the 2015 Summit League Tournament, two regular-season titles and seven top-five finishes. Sydney MacDonald and Hallie Getz picked up second-team All-Summit League honors. The pair finished one-two in single-season stroke average and MacDonald completed her career with the second-lowest career stroke average (79.30). VanDamme’s coaching had the Jackrabbits improving their scoring averages by a remarkable two strokes and earning a national ranking as high as No. 91.
In 2016, the Jackrabbits won three tournaments and finished in the top five in nine of 12 tournaments and had 10 top-10 finishes. And once again, VanDamme had SDSU in the hunt for the Summit League title, but SDSU finished second for the second time in school history.
VanDamme guided SDSU to eight single-season school records with and first-team All-Summit League selection Megan Mingo set all eight. Mingo and first-team All-Summit League pick Hallie Getz both won the program’s first individual titles and have the top two single-season records for stroke average and are the top two for career stroke average. All told, VanDamme helped five of eight Jackrabbits dropped two-or-more strokes from their 2014-15 average.
This past season, the Jackrabbits finished the season winning a school-record five regular-season tournaments and finished in the top three in 11 of 12 tournaments. SDSU had its best shot a winning the 2017 Summit League title, but a second consecutive second-place finish ended its chance for postseason.
Three Jackrabbits won individual titles in 2016-17. Mingo won a pair, capturing the 2017 Summit League title and the Seton Hall Pirate Invitational. Hallie Getz recorded her second career win, taking home Nebraska’s Chip-N Club title. Teresa Toscano picked up her first individual title, winning the eighth-annual Jackrabbit Invitational. SDSU finished the season ranked 69th nationally and set all four single-season team records. It bettered last year’s stroke average record by more than four strokes, shooting a 299.61.
In addition to Mingo, Getz and Toscano were second-team All-Summit League picks. Mingo was named The Summit League Championship MVP and was honored with Toscano on the all-tournament team.
VanDamme, who is SDSU’s second full-time golf coach, spent five seasons at Tennessee as director of instruction/player development, beginning in 2009. During his tenure, Tennessee equaled its best postseason stretch in school history with five trips to the NCAA Championship regionals, advancing to the 2010, 2011 and 2013 NCAA Championships.
Prior to coaching the Vols, VanDamme learned the trade under renowned golf instructor Jim McLean. He spent seven years at the Jim McLean Golf School in Palm Springs, Calif., and Traverse City, Mich., becoming the youngest master instructor in school history.
VanDamme has worked with PGA Tour players, including as an on-site teaching professional to a participant in the 2009 PGA Championship.
He began his collegiate golf career at Marquette before finishing at Northern Michigan, where he graduated in 2000. VanDamme started his tenure under McLean in 1998 while still playing collegiately. He also played professionally on the National Golf Association Hooters Tour in 2003-04.
From 2006 to 2009, VanDamme served as athletic director at Mid Peninsula High School in Rock, Mich., also working summers since 2005 with the CVD Golf Academy in Gladstone, Mich. He also served in 2008 as head golf professional at LochenHeath Golf Club in Traverse City.
VanDamme and his wife, the former Jill Gobert, are natives of Perkins, Mich., and are the parents of daughters, Madelyn, Claire, Lizzy and son, Andrew.
Since VanDamme’s arrival, he has coached seven all-league selections, mentored all-academic performers and the Jackrabbits have rewritten the record book. He has also upgraded and transformed the Jackrabbits’ regular-season schedule.
VanDamme has coached three first-team All-Summit League selections, four second-team all-league picks and two all-tournament honorees in the last three years.
In the classroom, Sydney MacDonald earned Summit League All-Academic accolades and 15 Jackrabbits have also been named to The Summit League Academic Honor Roll and 17 to The Summit League Commissioner’s List of Academic Excellence since VanDamme came to State.
In the SDSU record book, the Jacks set the 18-, 36- and 54-hole records, the single-season record for stroke average, rounds and top-five, top-10 and top-25 finishes. On the career chart, school records for stroke average, rounds and top-five, top-10 and top-25 finishes fell. Megan Mingo finished her career under VanDamme with the lowest single-season stroke average (74.46) and career stroke average (76.73). As a team, the Jackrabbits set the 18-, 36- and 54-hole records and posted the lowest single-season team scoring average (299.61) in 2016-17.
South Dakota State moved from playing most of its regular-season tournaments within the region against regional opponents after VanDamme’s arrival. The Jackrabbits thrived, winning 10 titles, including five in 2016-17, the second-most in the NCAA. They have also played in Nevada four times, Utah and Arizona three times, Florida twice and in events in Oregon, Tennessee, Hawaii and New Mexico.
What They're Saying About New South Dakota State’s Director of Golf Casey VanDamme
Joining the Jackrabbits family in July 2014, VanDamme guided SDSU to a third-place finish at the 2015 Summit League Tournament, two regular-season titles and seven top-five finishes. Sydney MacDonald and Hallie Getz picked up second-team All-Summit League honors. The pair finished one-two in single-season stroke average and MacDonald completed her career with the second-lowest career stroke average (79.30). VanDamme’s coaching had the Jackrabbits improving their scoring averages by a remarkable two strokes and earning a national ranking as high as No. 91.
In 2016, the Jackrabbits won three tournaments and finished in the top five in nine of 12 tournaments and had 10 top-10 finishes. And once again, VanDamme had SDSU in the hunt for the Summit League title, but SDSU finished second for the second time in school history.
VanDamme guided SDSU to eight single-season school records with and first-team All-Summit League selection Megan Mingo set all eight. Mingo and first-team All-Summit League pick Hallie Getz both won the program’s first individual titles and have the top two single-season records for stroke average and are the top two for career stroke average. All told, VanDamme helped five of eight Jackrabbits dropped two-or-more strokes from their 2014-15 average.
This past season, the Jackrabbits finished the season winning a school-record five regular-season tournaments and finished in the top three in 11 of 12 tournaments. SDSU had its best shot a winning the 2017 Summit League title, but a second consecutive second-place finish ended its chance for postseason.
Three Jackrabbits won individual titles in 2016-17. Mingo won a pair, capturing the 2017 Summit League title and the Seton Hall Pirate Invitational. Hallie Getz recorded her second career win, taking home Nebraska’s Chip-N Club title. Teresa Toscano picked up her first individual title, winning the eighth-annual Jackrabbit Invitational. SDSU finished the season ranked 69th nationally and set all four single-season team records. It bettered last year’s stroke average record by more than four strokes, shooting a 299.61.
In addition to Mingo, Getz and Toscano were second-team All-Summit League picks. Mingo was named The Summit League Championship MVP and was honored with Toscano on the all-tournament team.
VanDamme, who is SDSU’s second full-time golf coach, spent five seasons at Tennessee as director of instruction/player development, beginning in 2009. During his tenure, Tennessee equaled its best postseason stretch in school history with five trips to the NCAA Championship regionals, advancing to the 2010, 2011 and 2013 NCAA Championships.
Prior to coaching the Vols, VanDamme learned the trade under renowned golf instructor Jim McLean. He spent seven years at the Jim McLean Golf School in Palm Springs, Calif., and Traverse City, Mich., becoming the youngest master instructor in school history.
VanDamme has worked with PGA Tour players, including as an on-site teaching professional to a participant in the 2009 PGA Championship.
He began his collegiate golf career at Marquette before finishing at Northern Michigan, where he graduated in 2000. VanDamme started his tenure under McLean in 1998 while still playing collegiately. He also played professionally on the National Golf Association Hooters Tour in 2003-04.
From 2006 to 2009, VanDamme served as athletic director at Mid Peninsula High School in Rock, Mich., also working summers since 2005 with the CVD Golf Academy in Gladstone, Mich. He also served in 2008 as head golf professional at LochenHeath Golf Club in Traverse City.
VanDamme and his wife, the former Jill Gobert, are natives of Perkins, Mich., and are the parents of daughters, Madelyn, Claire, Lizzy and son, Andrew.
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