Following the legendary 30-year leadership of Coach Jack Halpin, the Boys Golf program assumed a new leader this season. Named the ESCC Coach of the Year following Saint Viator’s Conference Championship, Head Coach Jon Dean embraces this honor.

“It’s 100% the byproduct of having a great group of guys on the team who played some really good golf this year,” said Coach Dean.

From Michigan farm boy to Notre Dame D1 golfer, Coach Dean (aka JD) is no stranger to success. 

“I was fortunate enough to have a solid high school career…winning a team state championship, individually winning the Michigan Junior Amateur, winning some national events and being named a Ping Junior All-American. It was a nice run.”

Coach Dean describes his coaching style as “positive and fun, but intense.” 

“It’s important – in life, and especially in golf – to be positive, focused and in-the-moment,” said Coach Dean. “There are a ton of variables in golf you can’t control, so focus on the stuff we can control like preparation, decision making, course management, the mental game, pre (and post) shot routine and how we respond to adversity.” 

Beyond the title of ‘Coach,’ he is also ‘Dad’ to Ella, a junior at Viator, and three more Future Lions. He enjoys being on the Viator coaching staff and seeing his daughter around school.

“It’s fun to play a sport where you could actually be better when you’re 55 or 60 years old than when you were, say, 18 years old,” said Coach Dean. “Plus, golf truly does teach life-lessons – things like integrity, hard work, focus, concentration, and mental toughness.”

JD’s future goals at Saint Viator are straight-forward: “have fun, help teach young men about life and golf, win state titles, and build a world-class golf program.”

Keep an eye out for Coach Dean on and off the course because this Coach of the Year is going “fore” it.