By Chuck Reherman
Sports Editor
Getting his shot.
DJ Landry will be “switching” coaching gear after being named the head girls golf coach at Yukon.
Landry has been an assistant baseball coach for the Millers the past four years and is looking ahead to the challenge of switching sports and building the girls golf program.
Landry coached the junior varsity team this past spring and worked with the freshman team during the Red Dirt League summer program. He is also an assistant softball coach and will remain in that position this fall.
This was Landry’s second shot at getting the girls golf position. He applied for it in 2019. When the position came open again this year, he didn’t hesitate to go after it.
“I am really excited about getting the position,” Landry said. “I had put my name in the hat last year and didn’t get it, but it was probably for the best. I had one of my favorite years coaching baseball this year and I feel I am in a better mindset and place to take it over this year.
“I have done baseball my whole life and there was always a conflict of me playing competitive golf because I have always played competitive baseball,” he said. “My grandfather bought me a set of clubs when I was 10-years-old and got me into it. There is a big group of us that try and go out and golf every chance we get.
“For me, it’s transitioning into the next chapter of life. with doing golf, I will have more opportunity and time with friends and family and eventually starting a family is something that will happen in the near future and will give me more time to focus on that and be there as much as I can.”
With golf practice not starting until later in the year, Landry will continue to coach softball.
“Softball goes until the fall break and golf doesn’t start until Dec. 1 when we are allowed to start practicing, so that works out well for me.
“One of the girls that plays softball is also a golfer so that will help me to get to know the girls better,” he said. “Plus, her brothers, I grew up playing sports with her oldest brother and I have had the opportunity to coach her the last two years in softball.
“I will need to get in and get to know the girls better and learn my system,” he said. “I want to focus on what the girls want individually and once I can sit down and talk to them about their goals, see what they are and taking all that together and then see how we can be successful as a team.
“It will be a challenge coaching golf for the first time because I have always had the conflict with golf and baseball. After I graduated high school I starting coaching summer baseball and then transitioned into softball. It will be something new, but it is something I feel I can transition into. Plus I have friends that coach golf I can call and help me.”
