Women's Rifle
- Title:
- Volunteer Assistant
TCU rifle is adding a familiar face to their coaching staff as Rachel (Garner) McCollum, a TCU rifle alumna who was on the team from 2015-19, joins the team as a volunteer assistant coach. She was a part of the 2019 National Championship team.
The Celina, Texas native grew up shooting with her dad and grandpa, while learning to hunt. From there, she got involved with 4H shooting sports when she was 8 years old and started precision rifle shooting a few years later.
Shooting is a family affair in the Garner household. Her older brother, Michael Garner, shot for West Point (class of 2018) and her younger brother, Stephen Garner, currently shoots at VMI (class of 2023). Her sister is a TCU alumna, who did ROTC and graduated and commissioned in 2020.
"It's pretty cool that I now get to be coaching with her," McCollum said.
McCollum is grateful for her time on the rifle team and wants to give back in any way possible.
"It obviously transformed who I was as a competitor, taking me to new levels and wild opportunities that I hadn't actually thought of as realistic possibilities prior to TCU," McCollum said. "But it also challenged and grew me on a very personal level. I would not be who or where I am today without the impact that Karen Monez and my teammates had on my life."
Her favorite memory as a member of the team was watching head coach Karen Monez make a "snow angel" in the confetti when the team won the NCAA Championships in 2019.
"While a member of the TCU rifle team, Rachel set the bar high for what it means to be a student-athlete," Monez said. "As she transitions into a coaching role, her leadership strengths, character and integrity will have a positive impact on the success of the team."
After her time at TCU, she continued competing with the U.S. National Team and through the end of Olympic Trials for the Tokyo Olympic Games, while also working full-time as a registered nurse.
"Now that her competitive days are finished, I am pleased to have Rachel back at TCU as a member of the coaching staff. Her knowledge and skills will be an asset in helping develop and improve the performance level of the rifle team members," Monez said. "Rachel has the ability to assist with the technical aspect of the sport…as well as help athletes with the emotional and mental side of the sport."
Outside of rifle, McCollum enjoys woodworking, camping, hot air ballooning, hunting and plants.
"I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to pour back into the program that put me where I am today, and to contribute to the legacy that makes TCU what it is," McCollum said.
