6/18/2024 6:00:00 PM | Men's Golf
OXFORD, Ohio-- Miami University Director of Athletics David Sayler announced today that golf head coach JD Fletcher has agreed to a multi-year contract extension through the 2026-27 season. Fletcher guided the RedHawks to a runner-up performance at the 2024 MAC Championships this spring, the program's highest finish since 2015.
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"I am grateful for the support from our athletic administration, in particular David Sayler and Jennie Gilbert. They took a chance on a 25-year-old three years ago and I will always be grateful for them trusting me with this program," Fletcher said.
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"I'd also like to take time to thank my support staff Charlie Winkler (Assistant Golf Coach), Heather Vollmer (Business Office), Alex Reid (Compliance), Debbie Vogt (Program Associate), Keith Parker (Strength Coach), Michael Leroy (Athletic Trainer), Jim Slager (Sports Psychologist), Ryan Swallow (Academics), Darrell Hallberg and Adam Boyer (Equipment) and Tim Cary (Athletic Communications & Marketing). Without these people our program is nothing and they all have helped tremendously in pushing this program forward. I will always be thankful for them.Â
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"Lastly, thank you to our current student-athletes and the Miami golf alumni for making Oxford home for Taylor and I. I am extremely excited about this contract extension and to have the ability to keep our momentum going with our performance, fundraising and recruiting.Â
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"I look forward to putting out a program that our alumni and university will be proud of."
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In 2023-24, Fletcher led the RedHawks to their second top-two finish at the MAC Championships in the past 20 seasons. Miami produced a pair of All-MAC honorees (Danny Fisher – first team, Brett Podobinski – second team), the MAC Freshman of the Year (Morgan Blythe) and a MAC All-Tournament pick (Fisher). The Red and White also swept the top three spots on the podium at the Ross Collegiate Classic in March to take second place as a team, one of six top-five team finishes on the year.
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During the 2022-23 season, Miami's team finished in the top five at the Wolfpack Intercollegiate, the Ross Intercollegiate and the MAC Championship. Danny Fisher was named Second Team All-MAC and earned All-Tournament honors after finishing as the runner-up at the MAC Championship (71-71-70=212). Four different RedHawks were named MAC Golfer of the Week or MAC Scholar-Athlete of the Week during the 2022-23 campaign. Fletcher's squad also produced one CSC Academic All-District selection (Sam West), three GCAA All-America Scholars and three Academic All-MAC honorees.
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The 2021-22 season was highlighted by the RedHawks' strong performance at the MAC Championships, where senior Jack Ebner finished as a runner-up medalist after a playoff hole and shot a 217 (73-72-72) to lead Miami to a fifth-place showing. Ebner and Fisher were both named second-team All-MAC performers. Fletcher coached four Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-America Scholars in his first year at the helm, and saw five RedHawks named Academic All-MAC, tied for most from any program in the conference.
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Over the last three years, Miami has improved its record (based on teams faced and teams defeated) from 38-116-7 to 75-83-2 to 85-69-3 and jumped 42 spots in the Clippd Scoreboard national rankings.
Additionally, Miami golfers have been honored with the MAC's Earl Yestingsmeier Sportsmanship Award each of the past three seasons under Fletcher (Fisher-2024, Ebner-2023, Jack Herceg-2022).
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"I am excited about the direction of Miami Golf under Coach Fletcher's leadership, as evidenced by the team's performance in the most recent MAC Championships," Sayler said. "The improvement that the program has made over the past three years is notable, and we are looking forward to what they can accomplish in the future."
Fletcher, a 2019 Miami University graduate, returned to his alma mater as head coach in August 2021 after spending the previous year as head coach and director of Golf at Earlham College. Prior to his short stint at Earlham, he was the Men's & Women's Assistant Coach at Carnegie Mellon along with being the Director of Player Development at the Pittsburgh Field Club.
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As a student-athlete for the RedHawks, Fletcher competed in 11 events and one MAC Championship during his collegiate career, and was a Top 25 finisher at the 2017 Ohio Amateur. Fletcher also worked as a strength and conditioning intern for the RedHawks. He graduated from Miami with a Bachelor's degree in sports leadership and management.
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"I am grateful for the support from our athletic administration, in particular David Sayler and Jennie Gilbert. They took a chance on a 25-year-old three years ago and I will always be grateful for them trusting me with this program," Fletcher said.
Â
"I'd also like to take time to thank my support staff Charlie Winkler (Assistant Golf Coach), Heather Vollmer (Business Office), Alex Reid (Compliance), Debbie Vogt (Program Associate), Keith Parker (Strength Coach), Michael Leroy (Athletic Trainer), Jim Slager (Sports Psychologist), Ryan Swallow (Academics), Darrell Hallberg and Adam Boyer (Equipment) and Tim Cary (Athletic Communications & Marketing). Without these people our program is nothing and they all have helped tremendously in pushing this program forward. I will always be thankful for them.Â
Â
"Lastly, thank you to our current student-athletes and the Miami golf alumni for making Oxford home for Taylor and I. I am extremely excited about this contract extension and to have the ability to keep our momentum going with our performance, fundraising and recruiting.Â
Â
"I look forward to putting out a program that our alumni and university will be proud of."
Â
In 2023-24, Fletcher led the RedHawks to their second top-two finish at the MAC Championships in the past 20 seasons. Miami produced a pair of All-MAC honorees (Danny Fisher – first team, Brett Podobinski – second team), the MAC Freshman of the Year (Morgan Blythe) and a MAC All-Tournament pick (Fisher). The Red and White also swept the top three spots on the podium at the Ross Collegiate Classic in March to take second place as a team, one of six top-five team finishes on the year.
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During the 2022-23 season, Miami's team finished in the top five at the Wolfpack Intercollegiate, the Ross Intercollegiate and the MAC Championship. Danny Fisher was named Second Team All-MAC and earned All-Tournament honors after finishing as the runner-up at the MAC Championship (71-71-70=212). Four different RedHawks were named MAC Golfer of the Week or MAC Scholar-Athlete of the Week during the 2022-23 campaign. Fletcher's squad also produced one CSC Academic All-District selection (Sam West), three GCAA All-America Scholars and three Academic All-MAC honorees.
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The 2021-22 season was highlighted by the RedHawks' strong performance at the MAC Championships, where senior Jack Ebner finished as a runner-up medalist after a playoff hole and shot a 217 (73-72-72) to lead Miami to a fifth-place showing. Ebner and Fisher were both named second-team All-MAC performers. Fletcher coached four Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-America Scholars in his first year at the helm, and saw five RedHawks named Academic All-MAC, tied for most from any program in the conference.
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Over the last three years, Miami has improved its record (based on teams faced and teams defeated) from 38-116-7 to 75-83-2 to 85-69-3 and jumped 42 spots in the Clippd Scoreboard national rankings.
Additionally, Miami golfers have been honored with the MAC's Earl Yestingsmeier Sportsmanship Award each of the past three seasons under Fletcher (Fisher-2024, Ebner-2023, Jack Herceg-2022).
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"I am excited about the direction of Miami Golf under Coach Fletcher's leadership, as evidenced by the team's performance in the most recent MAC Championships," Sayler said. "The improvement that the program has made over the past three years is notable, and we are looking forward to what they can accomplish in the future."
Fletcher, a 2019 Miami University graduate, returned to his alma mater as head coach in August 2021 after spending the previous year as head coach and director of Golf at Earlham College. Prior to his short stint at Earlham, he was the Men's & Women's Assistant Coach at Carnegie Mellon along with being the Director of Player Development at the Pittsburgh Field Club.
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As a student-athlete for the RedHawks, Fletcher competed in 11 events and one MAC Championship during his collegiate career, and was a Top 25 finisher at the 2017 Ohio Amateur. Fletcher also worked as a strength and conditioning intern for the RedHawks. He graduated from Miami with a Bachelor's degree in sports leadership and management.
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Sunday, October 25
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