College Golf Today: Inspiring Tomorrow's Coaches and Players

Roger Yaffe | Former Executive Director of the WGCA

In this episode of College Golf Today [https://fairwaytogreen.com/podcasts/college-golf-today-inspiring-tomorrows-coaches-and-players/], host Kelly Okun speaks with Roger Yaffe, the recently retired Executive Director of the Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA). In the role for 26 years, Roger is credited for elevating women's college golf to where it is today. From quintupling the number of coaches in the organization to gaining more visibility through deals with partners like Golf Channel, women's golf has grown leaps and bounds during his tenure. Roger also shares his journey into the golf industry, which began in a unique way in high school. He praises his past boards and presidents for the organization’s progress, expresses gratitude to coaches and staff, shares his excitement for Courtney Trimble's start as CEO of the WGCA and voices hope for clarity amid ongoing uncertainty in college athletics.

Kelley Hester | Clemson University Women's Golf

In this episode of College Golf Today [https://fairwaytogreen.com/podcasts/college-golf-today-inspiring-tomorrows-coaches-and-players/], host Kelly Okun speaks with Kelley Hester, the head coach of Clemson's women's golf team. Kelley has been the president of the WGCA twice, with her most recent term just ending this year. She shares her experience coaching at a variety of programs, the importance of a supportive partner, why coaches need to network and her take on how NIL and roster caps are changing college golf. Kelley has seen so much in college golf, and her insights are valuable to all looking to join this community as a coach or student-athlete.

Tiffany Joh | U.S. National Development Program (USGA)

In this episode of College Golf Today [https://fairwaytogreen.com/podcasts/college-golf-today-inspiring-tomorrows-coaches-and-players/], host Kelly Okun speaks with Tiffany Joh, an 11-year LPGA Tour veteran, former college coach and now the assistant coach of the U.S. National Development Program at the USGA. Tiff shares her journey from playing at UCLA and on the LPGA Tour to becoming an assistant college golf coach at Cal State San Marcos, then the University of Southern California. She also dives into the importance of relationships and data when it comes to building trust with her athletes and then effectively helping them improve. She provides some fantastic coaching advice that was passed down to her when she started that all aspiring coaches will enjoy. Tiff joined the U.S. National Development Program to help pave the way for junior golfers to make the most of their talent and work ethic and support them from their beginning days to hopefully the days they turn professional and beyond.

Kevin Williams | East Carolina University Women's Golf

In this episode of College Golf Today [https://fairwaytogreen.com/podcasts/college-golf-today-inspiring-tomorrows-coaches-and-players/], host Kelly Okun speaks with Kevin Williams, the Director of Golf and Head Coach of the Women's and Men's teams at East Carolina University. Kevin shares how he started the women's program from scratch, what he looks for in his recruits, why specializing in a sport too early could be a risk and his take on the future of women's college golf.  With so much wisdom in just this episode, it's no surprise Kevin was named the 2025 Kim Evans Award recipient and the incoming president of the WGCA.

Jonathan Howard | William & Mary Women's Golf

In this episode of College Golf Today [https://fairwaytogreen.com/podcasts/college-golf-today-inspiring-tomorrows-coaches-and-players/], host Kelly Okun speaks with Jonathan Howard, the recently appointed head women's golf coach at William & Mary. Jonathan shares his journey into coaching, his learnings as a new Division 1 coach coming from the Division 3 level, his thoughts about hosting a larger golf tournament and how academics play an interesting role in the transfer portal for schools like William & Mary. Jonathan emphasizes the importance of building and maintaining relationships as a college golf coach and staying true to yourself. He also dives into what it's like to rebuild a team culture as the "new kid."