Many people feel coaches are there just to support the team and help with skill development. They are often overlooked and considered just someone who is there.
Mr. Nathaniel Denton is a healthful living teacher and a golf coach for both women’s and men’s golf and flag football. He recently won the conference Coach of the Year for both women’s and men’s golf.
Despite the award, Coach Denton doesn’t act like he’s the main character on the course. In fact, he was genuinely surprised to get the recognition after what he called a “down year.” Since the winner is voted on by other coaches in the conference, it meant a lot to him to be honored by his peers, even when his team wasn’t winning every single title.
“It was nice to have somewhat of a down year, and then still be honored by my peers,” Denton mentioned. His coaching journey wasn’t planned, either. He got his start thanks to a former substitute teacher at Panther Creek, Chris Reddington. When Reddington was ready to step down, he tapped Denton to take over the program.
“I told him, ‘I’m not much of a golfer,’” But after seeing the dedication and discipline the sport required, he was interested. Now, he’s become a mentor who highlights that golf is more than just swinging a club; it’s a lesson in how to handle life.
Coach Denton is big on the “next shot” mindset. He tells his players that the game doesn’t give you the time to think about the past, good or bad. “The next moment is more important than the last moment,” he explained. “If you had a good shot, store it. If you hit a bad shot, you gotta forget it.”
When it comes to his current team, Coach is quick to point out that the credit for this season’s success belongs to his players. He’s been able to take a bit of a backseat this year because of the strong senior leadership on the roster. He’s especially proud of how they’ve stepped up, noting that all three of his seniors are heading to the college level.
He also gave a shout-out to Eli Taylor, who had a great moment this season. During one tournament, Taylor performed as the top player out of 42 competitors, awarding for the team.
“This team has had a little bit more of an investment into it,” Denton said. “They make a little bit more decisions. I’ve taken a bit of a backseat. I’d say senior leadership is by far the most important thing right now.”
