Maria Hernandez had turned down dozens of schools when Purdue coach Devon Brouse kept calling. She’d made up her mind that she was going to study architecture in Spain and likely never turn professional. Over and over, Hernandez told her mother that she was never going to sign. Brouse called so many times, Hernandez switched off all the phones in the house.
“My mother is like ‘He never called you back?’ ” Hernandez recalled, laughing.
Eventually, a stubborn Hernandez ran out of excuses and gave in. She moved to West Lafayette, Indiana, to study and pursue golf, and coach and player – who are far more alike than different – embarked on what Brouse called “baptism by fire.”
