“It’s Meant to Be”: Lena Spainhour Returns Home to Coastal Carolina
8/20/2026 12:30:00 PM | Women's Golf
CONWAY - For Lena Spainhour, returning to Coastal Carolina feels less like the start of a new chapter and more like a return to where her story began.
More than a decade after arriving in Conway as a freshman from Germany, Spainhour (formerly Schaeffner) is back where she once competed, this time as an assistant coach for the Coastal Carolina women's golf team.
"I'm super excited. It feels a bit like a full-circle moment," Spainhour said.
Spainhour played for Head Coach Katie Quinney from 2012-16, building one of the most decorated careers in program history. She was a three-time All-Big South honoree, the 2015 Big South Golfer of the Year and the 2015 Big South Tournament champion while finishing tied for second in the NCAA Regionals and qualifying for the NCAA National Championship tournament that season. She finished her career with a 74.50 scoring average, second in the Coastal record book, while setting the program's single-season scoring record at 72.94 in 2014-15. She was inducted into Coastal Carolina's George F. "Buddy" Sasser Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022.
Now, she has the opportunity to give back to the program that helped shape her.
"Deep down, I always felt like I was meant to be here, in the coaching world," Spainhour said. "When the opportunity came up, I was thrilled."
The decision, however, was not necessarily one Spainhour expected to make. After graduating with a degree in Recreation and Sport Management, she played three seasons on the Symetra Tour — now known as the Epson Tour — before retiring in 2019. She later worked as a wedding event coordinator, in Coastal's athletics department with student-athletes and name, image and likeness, and with the Chanticleer Athletic Foundation.
But coaching was always somewhere in the back of her mind.
That feeling resurfaced when Spainhour stepped in as an assistant coach for one event during the fall of 2025. She quickly realized how much she missed working with student-athletes.
"I love the interactions with student-athletes," she said. "Developing them into individuals beyond their years of college."
Her first few weeks back in the office have included plenty of preparation — and plenty of cleaning. Spainhour wanted everything organized before the players returned in early August. She has also quickly jumped into recruiting, evaluated training plans and begun developing ideas for how she can help the team improve.
Her familiarity with Quinney makes the transition even more special.
"When I met her, I just felt right at home," Spainhour said.
Spainhour knew during her recruiting process that Coastal was where she wanted to be. She even visited another school wearing a Coastal shirt, forcing her to buy a sweater from that school in 100-degree weather so she could meet its coach without revealing where her heart already was.
"She was always one of those coaches that knew when to push and when to give," Spainhour said of Quinney. "I knew that she always 100% believed in me."
Their relationship never ended after Spainhour graduated. She would return to Coastal to practice with Quinney during her professional career, and the two remained close.
"Over the years, she's become one of my best friends," Spainhour said. "It feels extra special coming back here with her after all the years."
Spainhour's own playing career also gives her a perspective she hopes to pass along to Coastal's current players.
Her time on tour was rewarding, but came with a lonely lifestyle. After the 2018 season, she became burned out and lost the love for golf she once had. Injuries and the mental strain of professional golf contributed to her decision to step away.
For nearly three years, her clubs stayed in the closet.
"I decided to stop my career, which led me on a little bit of an identity crisis," Spainhour said. "Being an athlete was all I ever was."
Eventually, she picked up a club again. Her relationship with golf has gradually improved, but her biggest lessons now extend beyond the scorecard.
"This matters, but your life doesn't depend on it," she said. "You just have to put a stop to that pressure. You're still that same person whether you finish first or last."
That perspective is something Spainhour hopes to instill in the next generation.
She knows firsthand what it feels like to chase validation through scores and finishes. She also knows the value of hard work.
"I've always been a really hard worker," Spainhour said. "At this level, everyone has the talent. But you can have a work ethic that puts you ahead."
One of the most memorable moments of her Coastal career came at the 2015 NCAA East Regional, where Spainhour finished tied for second and made the first hole-in-one of her career on the par-3 125-yard 17th hole. Her parents had traveled from Germany to watch her compete and witnessed the ace.
Now, the flag from that hole still sits in the Coastal women's golf office.
So does Spainhour.
As she prepares for her first full season on Quinney's staff, she cannot help but feel the memories returning.
"I've sat on this chair, I've cried on this chair," Spainhour said. "I feel like it's 2012 again and we're getting ready for the season."
She sees a talented 2026-27 team with plenty of potential and is eager to bring a fresh voice to the group, particularly in the mental side of the game.
After everything that has happened since she first arrived in Conway, Spainhour believes she is exactly where she is supposed to be.
"There's truly nothing better than being here," she said. "I'm so excited to get the season started. It's meant to be."
More than a decade after arriving in Conway as a freshman from Germany, Spainhour (formerly Schaeffner) is back where she once competed, this time as an assistant coach for the Coastal Carolina women's golf team.
"I'm super excited. It feels a bit like a full-circle moment," Spainhour said.
Spainhour played for Head Coach Katie Quinney from 2012-16, building one of the most decorated careers in program history. She was a three-time All-Big South honoree, the 2015 Big South Golfer of the Year and the 2015 Big South Tournament champion while finishing tied for second in the NCAA Regionals and qualifying for the NCAA National Championship tournament that season. She finished her career with a 74.50 scoring average, second in the Coastal record book, while setting the program's single-season scoring record at 72.94 in 2014-15. She was inducted into Coastal Carolina's George F. "Buddy" Sasser Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022.
Now, she has the opportunity to give back to the program that helped shape her.
"Deep down, I always felt like I was meant to be here, in the coaching world," Spainhour said. "When the opportunity came up, I was thrilled."
The decision, however, was not necessarily one Spainhour expected to make. After graduating with a degree in Recreation and Sport Management, she played three seasons on the Symetra Tour — now known as the Epson Tour — before retiring in 2019. She later worked as a wedding event coordinator, in Coastal's athletics department with student-athletes and name, image and likeness, and with the Chanticleer Athletic Foundation.
But coaching was always somewhere in the back of her mind.
That feeling resurfaced when Spainhour stepped in as an assistant coach for one event during the fall of 2025. She quickly realized how much she missed working with student-athletes.
"I love the interactions with student-athletes," she said. "Developing them into individuals beyond their years of college."
Her first few weeks back in the office have included plenty of preparation — and plenty of cleaning. Spainhour wanted everything organized before the players returned in early August. She has also quickly jumped into recruiting, evaluated training plans and begun developing ideas for how she can help the team improve.
Her familiarity with Quinney makes the transition even more special.
"When I met her, I just felt right at home," Spainhour said.
Spainhour knew during her recruiting process that Coastal was where she wanted to be. She even visited another school wearing a Coastal shirt, forcing her to buy a sweater from that school in 100-degree weather so she could meet its coach without revealing where her heart already was.
"She was always one of those coaches that knew when to push and when to give," Spainhour said of Quinney. "I knew that she always 100% believed in me."
Their relationship never ended after Spainhour graduated. She would return to Coastal to practice with Quinney during her professional career, and the two remained close.
"Over the years, she's become one of my best friends," Spainhour said. "It feels extra special coming back here with her after all the years."
Spainhour's own playing career also gives her a perspective she hopes to pass along to Coastal's current players.
Her time on tour was rewarding, but came with a lonely lifestyle. After the 2018 season, she became burned out and lost the love for golf she once had. Injuries and the mental strain of professional golf contributed to her decision to step away.
For nearly three years, her clubs stayed in the closet.
"I decided to stop my career, which led me on a little bit of an identity crisis," Spainhour said. "Being an athlete was all I ever was."
Eventually, she picked up a club again. Her relationship with golf has gradually improved, but her biggest lessons now extend beyond the scorecard.
"This matters, but your life doesn't depend on it," she said. "You just have to put a stop to that pressure. You're still that same person whether you finish first or last."
That perspective is something Spainhour hopes to instill in the next generation.
She knows firsthand what it feels like to chase validation through scores and finishes. She also knows the value of hard work.
"I've always been a really hard worker," Spainhour said. "At this level, everyone has the talent. But you can have a work ethic that puts you ahead."
One of the most memorable moments of her Coastal career came at the 2015 NCAA East Regional, where Spainhour finished tied for second and made the first hole-in-one of her career on the par-3 125-yard 17th hole. Her parents had traveled from Germany to watch her compete and witnessed the ace.
Now, the flag from that hole still sits in the Coastal women's golf office.
So does Spainhour.
As she prepares for her first full season on Quinney's staff, she cannot help but feel the memories returning.
"I've sat on this chair, I've cried on this chair," Spainhour said. "I feel like it's 2012 again and we're getting ready for the season."
She sees a talented 2026-27 team with plenty of potential and is eager to bring a fresh voice to the group, particularly in the mental side of the game.
After everything that has happened since she first arrived in Conway, Spainhour believes she is exactly where she is supposed to be.
"There's truly nothing better than being here," she said. "I'm so excited to get the season started. It's meant to be."
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