By Mike Monahan

Watching his dad, David Johnson, guide the Lake Land women’s basketball team for years, Davis Johnson decided to give coaching a shot.

He takes over this season as Mattoon High boys golf coach, replacing Brett Poorman, who moved to Cumming, Georgia. 

“It means a lot to me to be a head coach. Whether it’s my dad at Lake Land or mom  (Stephanie) coaching our youth basketball teams, coaching has been something I’ve grown up with my whole life,” said Davis Johnson. ” I’m excited to begin my coaching career and create my own path in sports now that my playing days are behind me.”

Davis Johnson, a 2017 Mattoon grad played basketball at Lake Land, where he received his associate in arts in 2020. He was a member of the MHS golf team where he was the No. 2 golfer his senior year under Bob Lockart and was part of the team that advanced to the state meet and finished 37th overall with a 160 total score. He also played baseball (hitting .451 his senior year) under Mark Jackley and basketball under Josh Forsythe. 

It is an upper class dominated team this year with five seniors and five juniors, including four returning lettermen. Returning from last year are seniors Evan Diedrich, Garrett Miller along with juniors Madden Johnson and Will Pullen. The other seniors are Hunter Basham, Noah Lange and Brock Taylor. 

“The first day of practice was good. We had some bright spots in the scoring, some other scores I expect to go down,” said Davis Johnson. “ It’s just good to get out on the course and get going, the season begins so quickly for us getting as many reps as possible is crucial as practice time is so limited.”

Diedrich surprised himself last year by finishing 16th in the Class 2A state golf meet at Weibring Golf Course in Normal with a 152 as he became the fourth MHS boy to earn all-state status. Madden Johnson was 48th in the state meet with a 160. The Greenwave lost just two players from that team including Stuart Druin, who is continuing his golf career at Southern Arkansas University in Mangolia, Arkansas, a Division II school. Blaine Powers, an all-Apollo Conference player along with Druin, also graduated. 

“I think expectations for this team will be the same as they’ve been for the past decade at MHS golf, compete in the conference and compete to get the team as far into the state playoffs as possible,” said Davis Johnson. “The team experienced state last year so they understand what it takes and the scores needed to get back there. Our goal is to keep improving throughout the season and be playing our best golf late in the year when it really counts.”

Davis Johnson will have a unique opportunity in that he will coach his brother Madden. 

“I look forward to coaching Madden, he’s obviously a quality player and his accomplishments already speak for themselves, but he’s always trying to improve, always working on his game, and always open to suggestions and feedback which will make it very easy to coach him,” said Davis Johnson.

Last year the team was comprised of 15 and this year it is at 11, which is fine with Johnson. 

“It’s a very good number. We’re hoping to get to 12 to have a full six on varsity and six on JV, but 11 is not bad at all. It gets everyone the opportunity to play and compete and also allows me to work more individually so we can look to increase skill development throughout the season.”

Mattoon was second in the Apollo Conference and won the Charleston Class 2A Regional before placing second in the sectional and moving on to state. 

“We went to simply compete at the conference tournament and compete when the state playoffs come,” said Davis Johnson. “The season can be a grind and it’s a lot of golf in a very short amount of time but as a team and as individuals we’ll look to make strides forward in our game and hopefully be playing our best golf at the end of the season.”

Davis Johnson said Madden Johnson is expected to be the No. 1 golfer. 

“He’s a previous Apollo conference champion, and has now been to the state tournament twice, but his role will change a little bit with Stuart (Druin) gone,” Davis Johnson said. “He now moves to the number 1 spot, I think he understands what’s expected of him in this role and his work ethic reflects why he has seen the results he has,” said Davis Johnson. Diedrich was the other golfer (Madden being the first) that made the cut at the state tournament last year, he had a really quality two days at the state tournament. We’re hoping to see him carrying that momentum into his senior year, and provide a strong role for us this year. Will Pullen is another key piece for us as he moves up into a different role on the team, he had a strong postseason last year and hopefully that will build some confidence for him going into this season. Garrett Miller is the final returner from last year’s state team. Garrett has definitely worked on his game and I think he’s made great strides from where he ended the season last year to where he’s starting this year. I look for him to be a solid contributor to this year’s team. “

The Greenwave travel to Lincoln Thursday for a 1 p.m. match and the first home meet is Aug. 31 at the Mattoon Country Club with Paris, Urbana and Charleston. The Apollo Conference meet is at the Charleston Country Club Sept 18. 

2023 golf roster

Head coach: Davis Johnson, 1st year

Seniors

Hunter Basham

Evan Diedrich*

Noah Lange

Garrett Miller*

Brock Taylor

Junior

Drew Hoene

Madden Johnson*

Cole Larson

Brodi Probst

Will Pullen*

Freshman

Briggs Whitley

*-returning lettermen

2023 Mattoon boys golf schedule

(All meets at 4 p.m. all home meets at Meadowview Golf Course unless noted)

Aug. 17 at Lincoln (Lincoln Elks Golf Club), 1 p.m.Aug. 21 at Champaign Centennial (at University of Illinois Blue Golf Course), 1 p.m.: Aug 25 at Champaign Central (at University of Illinois Blue Course), 1 p.m.; Aug. 31 PARIS, URBANA, CHARLESTON (Mattoon Country Club)

Sept. 1 at Danville Invite (at Turtle Run Golf Club), 1 p.m.; Sept. 5 at Urbana (University of Illinois Orange Golf Course), Sept. 8 CRAIG DIXON INVITE (at Meadowview Golf Club) 1 p.m.; Sept. 9  CRAIG DIXON INVITE (at Meadowview Golf Club), 8 a.m.; Sept. 13 at Champaign Central (University of Illinois Blue Golf Course) vs. Champaign Central and Rantoul; Sept. 15 at Mt. Zion Invite (Red Tail Run Golf Course), 1 p.m.; Sept. 18 at Apollo Conference meet (at Charleston Country Club), 8:30 a.m.; Sept. 19 CASEY-WESTFIELD; Sept. 20 MAHOMET-SEYMOUR, ARCOLA/ARTHUR-LOVINGTON-ATWOOD-HAMMOND (at Mattoon Country Club); Sept. 22 at Charleston Invite (at Charleston Country Club), 1 p.m.; Sept. 23 at Normal Invite (at Ironwood Golf Club), 8:30 p.m.; Sept. 27 Class 2A regional, TBA

Oct. 2 Class 2A sectional, TBA