Yucca Valley High School has named a former volunteer assistant coach as the new coach of its golf team. Jason Harvey moves up the ranks from his position as a volunteer assistant coach as former Head Coach Jeff Evans stepped down to enjoy his retirement a little more. Evans will remain an assistant with the program.
Evans said, “I’m very excited for Coach Harvey as he begins his varsity golf head coaching duties. He is highly qualified and I am sure he will be successful as our new golf coach this season.”
In 2013, Harvey began volunteering for the golf team at Yucca Valley High School. He began assisting as a golf mechanics coach, but has transitioned his role to include almost all functions of the program. Under his assistance, the team has grown every year and currently is back-to-back league champions. He continues to set the bar higher and higher for the players and takes pride not only in the results of the team, but the personal growth of the individuals on the team. He will enter the 2020 season with all six returning varsity members, and looks forward to building on an undefeated 2019 season.
“I’m lucky to be taking the helm of an experienced team that already knows how to win. Four of the six players have individual CIF experience, and the entire team has been to back-to-back CIF Team regional events. I am expecting similar success this season, so my focus is to keep their motivation levels high, and boost new incoming players to try to ensure that this level of play is the new long-term norm for the program. My energy level for coaching this program is high, and I’m confident that will translate to high level of energy for the players,” Harvey said.
Harvey moved to Yucca Valley in 1989. He graduated from YVHS in 2002. He started playing golf at the age of 12, and played four years of varsity golf at YVHS, under Coach Tom Eliades.
After graduating from high school, Jason moved to San Diego to attend San Diego State University. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in real estate. He soon after moved back to Yucca Valley to start practicing real estate, which he still does today. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, backpacking and of course playing golf.
Principal Justin Monical says, “We are excited to have the great tradition of Trojan Golf continue with longtime program assistant coach, Jason Harvey, at the helm. Coach Harvey believes that the lessons learned in athletics are synonymous with lessons learned in life. He is an excellent role model for our student-athletes.”
Athletic Director Adam Wright added, “We are looking forward to another successful chapter of the Trojan Golf program under Coach Harvey’s leadership. He has a tremendous ability to grow and develop student-athletes in both skill and character.”
