John Vining enters his sixth season in the 2023-24 season at the helm of the South Dakota men’s golf team. Vining, a 2013 graduate of USD, was named as the men’s head coach in July of 2018. He previously spent five seasons as the Coyote men’s and women’s assistant golf coach.
In year five, Vining led his team to new records in program history. At the Duel at The Bluffs, Nick LaMotte tied for the lowest round in program history (64, -8) and set the record for lowest 36-hole score in Coyote history (132, -12). The top five lowest 36-hole tournaments were all set this season under Vining's guidance. The 2022-23 season was highlighted by a runner-up finish at the Western Illinois Invite on TPC Deere Run course. Vining led Max Schmidtke to a tie for 14th place at the Summit League Championship. It was the second straight year Schmditke finished inside the top-15 individually.
In his fourth season, Vining and the Coyotes recorded four top-eight finishes including a seventh-place finish at the Summit League Championships. Vining coached Max Schmidtke to a tie for ninth place at the conference tournament individually. It was the fifth consecutive season that Vining had an individual finish in the top-10 at the Summit League Championships.
Vining in his third season as the head coach guided to a pair of top five placings in the spring only season. The Yotes placed fourth at The Stampede at The Creek after shooting a three round score of 906. Senior Matt Tolan placed second in the tournament, his third top-five finish of the season. At the Summit League Tournament, the Yotes tied for fifth place with a three round score of 892 while junior Ben Hicks recorded a top-10 finish tying for seventh place. Tolan was named Summit League Golfer to Watch and picked up two golfer of the week honors in the spring as well as first-team all-Summit League. In the classroom, Tolan was named to the Summit League All-Academic team for boasting a 3.6 GPA. As a team, they posted a 3.07 team GPA in the 2020-21 season.
In his second season at the helm, Vining guided the team to a trio of top eight placings in the fall season highlighted by a fourth-place finish at the Bubba Barnett Intercollegiate. In the first event of the spring season, the team placed sixth and finished 1-over-par at the UNCG Martin Downs Collegiate. Sophomore Ben Hicks earned Summit League Co-Golfer of the Week honors for finishing 1-under-par after posting rounds of 67, 71 and 77 to place 20th at the UNCG Martin Downs Collegiate.
Vining, a former player and graduate assistant with the Coyotes, has been an integral part of the Coyotes’ success including a Summit League Championship, Summit League Golfer of the Year and numerous all-conference awards.
In his first year as the Coyotes’ head coach, Vining guided USD to a program scoring record of 293.6 shots per round. South Dakota saw six players shoot in the 60’s in at least one round and totaled 50 rounds at or below par. South Dakota finished runner-up at the Summit League Championship, improving each round with all three rounds under 298. Sophomore Tate Arends earned second-team all-Summit honors with a stroke average of 74.06 shots per round.
Vining also coached his brother, Tommy, for three years including his senior year as his head coach. Tommy concluded his career as the program’s leader with 38 rounds at or below par. He also ended his career with a stroke average of 73.6 strokes per round, also the program leader.
Tommy was named the 2017-18 Summit League Golfer of the Year accolade, the first for a Coyote. The same year, Matt Tolan earned all-conference honors.
Over his coaching career, Vining has coached Alex Kline, Brenna Lervick, Samuel Matthew, Jordan Rykal, Tommy Vining and Matt Tolan to All-Summit League honors. Tommy also earned the 2016-17 Summit League Newcomer of the Year.
In the 2014-15 season, Vining assisted the men’s team to a Summit League Championship along with head coach Nick Hovden earning Summit League Coach of the Year. At the championship, the Coyotes erased an 11-stroke deficit and passed two teams on the final day to claim the program’s first championship.
Vining also had a hand in coaching Lervick, the most decorated player in the history of the women’s golf team. She ended her career with career stroke average of 76.3 and earned individual medalist honors on four occasions.
As a player, Vining was named to the American Sky All-Conference Academic team and All-Summit League Academic Team. He was voted on and received the Coyote Character Award during his senior season in 2012.
Golf is a rich tradition in Vining’s family. His grandfather, Tom Egan, is a member of the South Dakota Golf Association Hall of Fame. Vining’s aunt, Jane Egan, played on the LPGA Tour and is a member of the New Mexico State Hall of Fame. His father, Rich, played Division I golf at Texas Pan American.
Vining is a native of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and has coached basketball at Sioux Falls Lincoln and worked for The First Tee
of Sioux Falls (junior golf).
Vining and his wife, Sarah, have a son, Jones, and reside in Sioux Falls.
Vining Accomplishments:
- Matt Tolan First Team All-Summit League (2021)
- Matt Tolan Summit League All-Academic Team (2021)
- Tate Arends Second Team All-Summit (2019)
- Scott Fudenberg Summit League All-Academic Team (2019, 2018)
- Tommy Vining Summit League Golfer of the Year (2018)
- Matt Tolan Second Team All-Summit (2018)
- Tommy Vining Summit League Newcomer of the Year, First Team All-Summit (2017)
- Cody Seal Second Team All-Summit (2017)
- Jordan Rykal First Team All-Summit (2016)
- Samuel Matthew First Team All-Summit (2015)
- Samuel Matthew Summit League All-Academic Team (2015)
- Men's Golf Summit League Champions (2015)
