Dayton, OH – Chris Yoder, PGA Director of Youth Player Development at Scioto Country Club, has been invited to join the coaching staff for Team Ohio. Yoder brings a considerable amount of coaching experience to Team Ohio. Before joining Scioto’s staff, he served as an assistant coach for The Ohio State University’s men’s golf team and was also an assistant coach at his alma mater, Wake Forest University, under legendary college golf coach Jerry Haas. During his time at Wake Forest, Yoder coached Webb Simpson, the 2012 U.S. Open Champion, and Bill Haas, the 2011 FedEx Cup Champion.
At Scioto Country Club, Yoder has built a junior program centered around a team coaching philosophy. His innovative and holistic approach to developing junior golfers has drawn significant interest and engagement. Key features of the Scioto Junior Program go beyond instruction, including Drive, Chip, and Putt preparation, PGA Junior League, on-course play, tournament travel support with onsite coaching, fun team trips, team fitness workouts, and mental coaching. The program fosters high-level competition with Junior Ryder Cup events against prestigious clubs such as Atlanta Athletic Club, The Country Club of Birmingham, Oakmont Country Club, and Canterbury Golf Club.
Yoder, the 2022 Southern Ohio PGA Teacher and Coach of the Year and 2024 Youth Player Development Award winner, also served as a Captain for Team SOPGA at the 2024 Junior Ohio Cup. In 2021, he coached both the Ohio Amateur Champion, Max Watson, and the Ohio Junior Champion, Tyler Sabo, in the same season.
“I grew up playing junior golf all over the state of Ohio, and I am honored to be selected to coach Team Ohio alongside Hall of Fame Coach Therese Hession,” noted Yoder. “I am excited for the opportunity to coach and mentor young junior golfers representing the great state of Ohio. I had an incredible youth golf experience created by my PGA professional, and my goal is to give this great game back to today’s youth by creating fun competition and experiences, along with long-lasting memories and friendships. Junior Golf is the best!”
Team Ohio is excited to see Yoder’s teaching style in action alongside other experienced instructors and coaches. Team Captain Therese Hession is extremely familiar with Yoder’s abilities and knows that he will be a tremendous asset to the development program.
Ohio was selected as a pilot state for the United States National Development Program. Aimed at identifying the top junior golf talent in the state, Team Ohio provides a player pathway to progress to the national level without having to travel outside the Buckeye State.
To learn more about how this program operates within Ohio, click here to view the Ohio Junior Series website.