Golf veteran Mike Jenkins new Notre Dame coach

Notre Dame High School has hired Mike Jenkins as its golf coach. Jenkins succeeds Jeff Fisher, who resigned after coaching the Fighting Irish golf teams for almost 25 years.

"I am excited about the opportunity to coach golf at Notre Dame," Jenkins said in a school release. "Notre Dame has a rich golf tradition with a lot of great past players and team championships. I look forward to the opportunity to continue that tradition, as well as teaching the game of golf to those just learning. When learned the right way, golf is a game enjoyed for life, no matter what level the player achieves."

Jenkins played golf at Western Kentucky University, where he majored in mathematics and physics. Among the previous jobs he has held in his more than four decades of involvement in golf was serving as president and treasurer for the Chattanooga District Golf Association for more than 20 years. He remains highly involved in the CDGA Junior Tour.

In 1993 Jenkins founded the Chattanooga TPC, which would feature the top local amateur golfers. He later assisted in the creation of The First Tee of Chattanooga with the purpose of giving teens and children affordable access to golf.

He also serves on the Tennessee Golf Association board of directors and was inducted into the Greater Chattanooga Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.

"The Notre Dame family is thrilled that someone the caliber of Mike Jenkins will be leading the Irish golf program," athletic director Matt Pobieglo said in the release. "Mike Jenkins' name is synonymous with Chattanooga golf, and he has worked diligently to promote the game throughout his career. His enthusiasm to use golf as a teaching tool and his experience to grow the game will be a tremendous asset for Notre Dame."

Fisher, who plans to teach two more years, spent a total of 40 years in coaching, 31 at Notre Dame. He coached a state semifinalist in girls' soccer in his early years at Notre Dame. He played football and wrestled in college and was an assistant football coach to Mike Zimmerman in the late 1980s.

Fisher was coach of the Irish's 2011 Class A/AA golf state champions, their 2010 runner-up team and the Lady Irish's 2008 runner-up team.

Fisher said a dwindling interest and reduction in numbers of players interested in golf at the school was the main reason for his decision. He said he wished Jenkins well and hopes he can reverse that trend.

"It got to the point I was getting to school in the morning at 7:15, 7:30, and not getting home until 8-something at night. Then I asked myself, 'Why am I doing this?'" Fisher said. "I could be doing other things, like working on my own game.

"Football coaches become golf coaches, then golf coaches need to do something else."

Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him on Twitter @KelleySmiddie.

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