Lessons from College Golf: Insights from Rice University Head Coach Justin Emil

College golf represents the intersection of academic excellence and athletic competition, a place where young athletes learn not just how to master their sport but also how to grow as individuals. Recently, I had the chance to sit down with Justin Emil, head coach of the Rice University men’s golf team, on the Connected Instructor Podcast to explore the life lessons, challenges, and triumphs of being both a coach and mentor to collegiate golfers.

Coach Emil has been a guiding force for Rice Golf since 2011, and in our conversation, he shared invaluable insights on what it takes to succeed—not only on the course but also in life. Here are some of the key takeaways from our talk.

A Career Built on Relationships

One of the first things Coach Emil emphasized is that coaching is about much more than teaching the technicalities of golf. It’s about building lasting relationships with players and helping them grow as individuals. “Staying connected with my players,” Emil said, “is the trophy that never collects dust.” While the joy of winning championships is undeniable, for Coach Emil, the true success comes from the ongoing relationships he maintains with his former players.

His philosophy centers on humility, wisdom, and honor—values that he encourages his team to live by both on and off the course. By fostering a culture that prioritizes these core tenets, Emil helps his players understand that golf is about more than just birdies and bogeys. “Golf is like life,” he shared, “and the lessons you learn out there on the course can translate into how you approach challenges and opportunities throughout your life.” 

The Importance of Team Culture

Winning is great, but a solid team culture is even more critical. In 2014, Rice University won its first Conference USA Championship in 75 years, and while the achievement was monumental, Coach Emil believes it was the team culture that truly made it possible. “We weren’t the most talented team that year,” he admitted, “but we played for each other. Everyone contributed when it mattered most.” 

That team success didn’t happen by accident. It was built on values like discipline, teamwork, and honor. Every player had a role, and they worked together, trusting that the collective effort would produce results. For Coach Emil, the experience reaffirmed the importance of instilling these qualities in his players. He emphasized that his coaching approach involves teaching players to compete, but also to remain humble and focused on the bigger picture.

Humility as the Foundation of Success

Throughout our conversation, the word “humility” kept coming up. For Coach Emil, humility isn’t just a nice-to-have trait—it’s the foundation for everything else. “Humility gets you outside of yourself and makes you realize that there’s a lot more going on in this world than just what I have going on,” Emil said. He explained that once players embrace humility, they can start working as a team and understanding that their individual success is tied to the group’s overall achievements .

This approach is particularly important in golf, a sport where it’s easy to get caught up in personal performance. Coach Emil’s players are reminded that every stroke, every practice session, and every off-course interaction contributes to the team’s overall success.

How Strategy and Discipline Shape Great Golfers

When it comes to playing competitive golf at the highest levels, talent is only one part of the equation. The other part? Strategy and discipline. Coach Emil shared a story that illustrated the importance of these two elements. He explained how his team spends time learning not just how to hit the ball but also where to hit it, applying smart course management to avoid trouble and make the most of every opportunity.

In one example, Emil described a putting exercise used to teach players the difference between skill and strategy. When given the challenge to make a downhill, left-to-right 15-foot putt, many players would leave the ball well past the hole on their first try. But when the challenge shifted to simply two-putting the same hole, nearly every player left the ball close. The lesson? Strategy—choosing when to be aggressive and when to play safe—can often lead to better results than sheer skill alone .

This is something Coach Emil drills into his team every day. “You have to marry the skill with strategy to really succeed in this game,” he noted. It’s a lesson that resonates far beyond the golf course. In life, knowing when to take risks and when to play it safe is a skill that can lead to long-term success.

Coaching for Life, Not Just Golf

For Coach Emil, the ultimate goal isn’t to turn his players into professional golfers (though he certainly has helped many achieve that dream). Instead, it’s about preparing them for life. “We’re preparing these young men for the next 40 years, not just the next four,” Emil explained . He sees his role as a coach as one of mentor, guiding his players through the challenges of college athletics and helping them grow into responsible, disciplined, and honorable individuals.

The key to this, according to Emil, is maintaining a relentless pursuit of team success over individual accolades. Every player is reminded that their actions affect the group, whether it’s how they practice, how they perform in class, or how they behave off the course. This focus on team over self creates a sense of accountability and camaraderie that helps players thrive both on and off the course.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Rice Golf

As Coach Emil looks toward the future, his goal for the Rice Owls is simple: to win. “We’re going to postseason this year. There’s no negotiating that,” Emil stated confidently . He knows his team has the talent and drive to succeed, but it will take more than that. It will take the values that have shaped the Rice Golf program—humility, wisdom, honor, discipline, and teamwork.

Rice University is a unique place, where the pursuit of academic excellence goes hand-in-hand with athletic competition. For Coach Emil, that makes it the perfect environment for developing well-rounded individuals who are ready to tackle whatever challenges life throws their way.

Final Thoughts: Lessons for All Golfers

Whether you’re an aspiring collegiate golfer or a weekend warrior, there’s a lot to learn from Coach Emil’s approach to coaching. Success in golf, much like success in life, comes from discipline, humility, and a commitment to something greater than yourself. As Coach Emil’s players learn these lessons, they carry them forward into whatever path they choose—whether it’s a professional golfing career or success in other fields.

Want to hear more insights like these? Tune into the Connected Instructor Podcast, where we dive deep into the world of golf with some of the sport’s top players, coaches, and experts.