Fletcher Signs Contract Extension Through 2032

OXFORD, Ohio-- Miami University Director of Athletics David Sayler announced this afternoon that golf head coach JD Fletcher has agreed to a contract extension through the 2031-32 season. Fletcher led the RedHawks to their first MAC title since 2015 this spring.

"Oxford has truly become home for me, Taylor, and our daughter, Margaret," said Fletcher. "Over the years, we've built incredible relationships with our community, alumni, current players and their families. The people here have made Miami a special place, and we're grateful to be a part of it.

"This contract extension reflects the athletic department's commitment to our program and the success of a non-revenue sport in an ever-changing college athletics landscape. I'm incredibly thankful to David Sayler for trusting me to lead Miami Golf and for his unwavering support. He is one of the best athletic directors in the country, and it's a privilege to work alongside him.

"I also want to thank Chauncey Winbush, who has been an outstanding sport administrator and has continually challenged our program to reach new heights. Jennie Gilbert and Darrell Hallberg have been instrumental in my growth as a coach, and none of this would have been possible without the tremendous administrative staff at Miami University.

"I appreciate Brad Okel's support with the fundraising of a new facility, which will put this program into new recruiting battles. I am also extremely grateful for Charlie Winkler's loyalty over the past three seasons, and I am proud of his recent promotion for the upcoming year.

"Most importantly, I want to thank our alumni and supporters. We have the best alumni network in the country— people who believe in our vision, invest in our student-athletes and are committed to building Miami into the premier mid-major golf program in the nation. Their support has played a vital role in everything we've accomplished.

"I'm excited for what lies ahead and remain fully committed to our players, our university, our alumni and everyone who has invested in this program. We will continue to work relentlessly, raise the standard every day and push Miami Golf to heights it has never reached before."

Fletcher was named MAC Coach of the Year last season after helping the RedHawks capture the MAC championship. The Red and White rallied on the final day of the MAC Championships to finish seven strokes ahead of runner-up Northern Illinois and lift the trophy. Liam Nelson won three events during the 2025-26 campaign, including Miami's first individual MAC championship since 2003. Nelson, the Flyer Invitational medalist and Muirfield Shootout co-medalist, was named to the MAC All-Tournament Team and was one of two RedHawks to receive All-MAC recognition (Nelson – First Team, Brett Podobinski – Second Team). Additionally, Michael Weber became the seventh different RedHawk in the last decade to capture the MAC's Earl Yestingsmeier Sportsmanship Award. The RedHawks finished the season with a mark of 61-85-5 (including a second-straight Sweetens Cove Intercollegiate championship), good for a No. 119 national ranking. Miami concluded its historic season with a 13th-place showing at the NCAA Bryan Regional. Five RedHawks were named Academic All-MAC, along with two players earning CSC Academic All-District recognition and five claiming Cobalt Golf All-America Scholar honors. Additionally, Miami received a PLATFORM Golf Team Academic Award for posting an average team GPA above 3.5.

The 2024-25 season saw Fletcher lead the Red and White to a top-100 national ranking for the first time since the 2019-20 campaign. Miami won the team title at Hawaii's Kapolei Invitational in October and shared the match play championship with Seton Hall at the Sweetens Cove Intercollegiate the following March. Michael Weber earned medalist honors at the Purdue Fall Invitational and was one of three RedHawks to be named All-MAC (Morgan Blythe – First Team, Weber and Podobinski – Second Team). Miami finished the year with a 94-53-3 record and took fifth place at the MAC Championships. The RedHawks produced three Academic All-MAC honorees and three Cobalt Golf All-America Scholars.

In 2023-24, Fletcher guided the RedHawks to a runner-up performance at the MAC Championships, the program's second top-two finish in the past 20 years. Miami produced a pair of All-MAC selections (Danny Fisher – first team, Podobinski – second team), the MAC Freshman of the Year (Morgan Blythe), a MAC All-Tournament pick (Fisher), two Academic All-MAC honors (Fisher and Cameron Pero) and three Cobalt Golf All-America Scholars (Fisher, Pero and Matthew Mattioli). The Red and White also swept the top three spots on the podium at the Ross Collegiate Classic in March, taking second place as a team.

During the 2022-23 season, Miami's team finished in the top five at the Wolfpack Intercollegiate, the Ross Intercollegiate and the MAC Championship. 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.

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. 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.

In all, four different Miami golfers have been honored with the MAC's Earl Yestingsmeier Sportsmanship Award during Fletcher's tenure (Weber-2026, Fisher-2024, Ebner-2023, Jack Herceg-2022).

"I am looking forward to the future success of Miami Golf as Coach Fletcher and his student-athletes build on an outstanding season," said Sayler. "Producing a MAC team champion, an individual conference champion and an NCAA appearance to go along with the success in the classroom is what our mission of Graduating Champions is all about.

"I am eager to see what heights Coach Fletcher and the team can reach in the years ahead."

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.

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.

Fletcher Signs Contract Extension Through 2032

Related News

Players Mentioned

Liam Nelson

Cameron Pero

Brett Podobinski

Michael Weber

Related Videos