Green in as new SHS boys golf coach

Newkirk to take over girls swimming

Strathmore High School announced the hiring of two head coaches for its spring programs with girls water polo head coach Monty Newkirk taking over girls swimming and Eddie Green in as the new boys golf coach.

Newkirk replaces former head coach Mike Chapman and started at Strathmore in the fall as the girls water polo coach. The Spartans were 20-7 on the season under Newkirk and were co-east Sequoia League champions with a 9-1 record. Playing up in the CIF Central Section Division II championship tournament for the first time, Strathmore made it to the quarterfinals where they fell to Porterville (21-8, 7-1 East Yosemite League).

Green is a new face for the Spartans’ athletic program and absorbs a talented golf program that won back-to-back Valley Div. III titles in 2016 and 2017, and has one of the best golfers in the Central Valley in Jeeven Larson. Larson was The Recorder’s 2017 All-orange Belt Boys Golfer of the Year after making it to the CIF Southern California Regional meet for the second year in a row.

As a math teacher at Sequoia Middle School, Green has taught some of Strathmore’s players, including Larson, and looks to recruit players that he’s taught and knows can play golf.

“I am excited to meet and get to know each and every player,” Green said. “I know over the last few years Strathmore has finished at or near the top of the league. We as a team will work

our hardest to keep that tradition going. We have lost a few great players to graduation, but I am looking forward to our underclassmen filling those spots this year.”

Green said he’s played golf since he was a senior in high school and continued to play for over 20 years. Although he’s never coached golf, Green has 21 years of experience as a basketball coach at the freshman level for Porterville High School and Sequoia, as well.

“I have been wanting

to get into coaching golf and when this golf position opened I jumped at it. I look to carry over my 21 years of basketball coaching experience into this position. By that I mean bringing teaching techniques that are active, competitive and fun.”

For his first season, Green plans to focus on core fundamental and course management strategies while also sharing his love of golf with the players.

“Golf is a mental game and I am excited to help

and encourage our players [to] focus better and love what the game of golf throws at them,” he said. “As a coach I want the players to first have fun. I want us to encourage each other and build each other up. At the end of the day golf is an individual sport and I want to encourage each golfer on an individual basis as no one swing is the same.”

Strathmore’s first match of the season is Feb. 21, at River Island Country Club against Porterville.