By Tyler Anderson, Northwestern College (Minn.)
Perry Tuseth didnt let the fact that he is old enough to coach the mens golf team at Northwestern College (Minn.) keep him from joining it as a player. At 47, he didnt care that he is old enough to be the father of his teammates. And he didnt let the idea of being classmates with his daughter discourage him from following his dream. Tuseth is enrolled in the Master of Organizational Leadership program at Northwestern. Katie, his daughter, is a junior who plays on Northwesterns womens basketball team.
The occurrence of an older collegiate athlete is not entirely unheard of, but joining your daughter as a fellow student-athlete likely is. Various avenues of research proved that currently there is no other father-daughter combination at the collegiate level across the country where both the father and daughter are competing at the same institution on varsity teams in the same academic year. Further this may be one of the only such occurrences in the history of collegiate athletics.
Katie was happy for her father to pursue his dream of playing collegiate golf, but also had concerns. I was really excited because I know how much he loves golf, She said. I was nervous at the same time because I knew he would then be taking on a full time job, school, and a sport as well. Originally, Perry wanted to pursue a new career in healthcare, but decided it would be more beneficial for him to enhance his career as supervisor for Macy's North Marketing Division. After being accepted into the masters program at Northwestern, he joked about trying out for the golf team. He never thought his joke would become a reality.
While watching his daughter play in a basketball tournament in Chicago (Ill.) last winter, Tuseth made the joke to Dave Halstensgard, Director of Athletics Special Projects at Northwestern. Halstensgard introduced Tuseth to Northwestern mens golf coach Billy Aune, who was at the same tournament because he also is an assistant coach for the mens basketball team. The more I joked about it, the more I realized what a kick it would be, Tuseth said. Despite being reluctant to tell Aune he was the one interested, he presented the idea of having an older graduate student on the team to him. Aunes positive response set into motion months of extensive research with the NCAA about eligibility.
I thought that it would be incredible if a 40-something could make a varsity golf team, Aune said. He proved that it can be done. When the NCAA inquired on why Tuseth had bounced around to so many different colleges to finish his bachelors degree, his honest response was, life happened. Finally, he was cleared to play. At 47 years old I finally feel like I'm getting my life on the right track, Tuseth said, When I was 18 and about to enter college for the first time, I had no idea what I was going to major in. How could I seriously consider competing on a college golf team at that time?
The biggest hurdle Tuseth faced was trying out for a team that had claimed three of the four previous conference championships. He said, It was the most nervous I have ever been over a golf ball in my life! Despite the difficulties he faced obtaining eligibility and earning a spot on the team, Tuseth knew it was all for a purpose. I believe this is where I'm meant to be, He said. I'm a firm believer in the idea that God takes something we love and incorporates it into our purpose in life. I couldn't be happier with my decision to go out for the team. It's been one of the true highlights of my life.
During the initial team meeting, Tuseth recalls walking in and thinking, I wonder how many of these kids think I'm the coach? When Aune introduced him and revealed his age and situation to his new teammates, the other players clapped for him. That thought still warms my heart when I think of it, he said. When the team met him and teed it up beside him during the tryouts, they thought of him as just another player that wants to make the team, Aune said.
Although he has more experience than the other players on the team, Tuseth is still willing to make adjustments to his game. In his first collegiate round, Tuseth shot 21 over par with a 92. I have not played as well as I would have liked up until now, Tuseth said. But like most freshmen, I'm still learning and from a great coach who has already made some major changes in my swing. I look for improvement in every round.
Watching her dad work through the struggles of collegiate sports has helped Katie strive personally for more on the basketball court. She said, The example of how my dad lives his life, along with the goals he sets for himself in everything he does has always driven me to be a harder worker. He gives everything he has. For this, I look up to my dad and I learn so much from him on a daily basis.
He definitely has brought maturity and perspective to the team, Aune said. He is living his dream of playing on a college golf team and always presents an attitude of thankfulness for this happening to him. I am proud to have him on my team.
As it stands now, Tuseth is on the road to graduate in December of 2007, giving him one more season on the team while on his current academic plan, but he will have eligibility to play beyond that. He has joked around with his family about pursuing another degree to allow him to continue playing on the team. But he was only joking. Then again, the idea of him joining the team started out as a joke.