National honor a representation of Peters Township’s commitment to golf
By Josh Rowntree, Director of Communications  • February 3, 2025


David Kuhn grew up wanting to play baseball. His father, after all, was a successful player in the 1950’s, reaching the minor leagues.

But, when baseball didn’t work out as a viable, long-term option for Kuhn, it was another sport that guided a young man looking for his way. And that path, a couple of decades later, led him to the highest honor a high school coach can receive.

In January, Kuhn — in his 25th year as the head coach of Peters Township’s powerful boys golf program — was named the 2023-2024 NFHS National Boys High School Golf Coach of the Year.

“I received a call from (PIAA Executive Director) Bob Lombardi, who is serving a term as the president of the NFHS,” said Kuhn, who had just completed a virtual meeting in which Lombardi was present. “I honestly hadn’t talked to him on the phone in 15 years. I figured he wanted to ask something about the meeting.

“He said, ‘hey, I just want to be the one to tell you that you won this.’ He tried to put into perspective the significance of it.”

Lombardi informed Kuhn that distinction makes him just the second coach in Pennsylvania history to receive the national honor, regardless of sport.

Peters Township athletic director Brian Geyer, who had pushed the nomination process through, had already called Kuhn’s wife with the news, and she called to congratulate her husband, as well, following Lombardi’s call.

“This is kind of a validation of the entirety of the last 25 years,” said Kuhn, who has won over 400 matches as a high school coach. “There’s a lot of people who have helped me along the way.”

Kuhn, — also awarded the Pennsylvania State Coach of the Year Award and named the top coach in the Northeast region — admits that he wouldn’t be able to receive such an award without the support of Geyer and the Peters Township administration, as well as the entire community.

“I live here, my daughter played here, and went on to play at Saint Francis,” he said. “It’s been really cool to see the outreach from a lot of people in the region, not just Peters, but just everyone that knows me.”

The award came around 16 months after the high school golf season ended. The NFHS waits until the turn of the calendar to name winners from the prior school year.

In the fall of 2023, Peters Township excelled greatly on the course, winning a sixth WPIAL title under Kuhn and seventh overall. The Indians went on to claim the PIAA Class 3A state title that season, as well.

This past fall, Peters Township’s Colton Lusk claimed the WPIAL Class 3A Individual Championship. He went on to place fifth at the state finals.

Kuhn credits a diligent and demanding method of preparation that forces his students to meticulously craft their game via practice.

“I get access to a lot of kids who have talent,” said Kuhn, who owns and operates the Kuhn Golf Academy in McMurray — one of the region’s top private training programs. “But talent isn’t any good unless you get them to work and accentuate that talent. A lot of times that takes some tough love and some push.

“You’ve got to be honest with people and straightforward with people. Those are relationships that are built over time and, in the end, people appreciate that you cared enough to be honest with them and you cared enough to give everything that you have to get them to where they want to be."

Peters Township and Kuhn have produced numerous talented players over the last 25 years, with 35 student-athletes moving on to play collegiately. Four of his past players have played on various pro tours.

And the Indians have been well-represented in WPGA events, both historically and of late.

Alec Stopperich, a 2016 Peters Township grad, claimed a victory in the 121st West Penn Open in July, pulling off a remarkable rally from six strokes down entering the final round. Brothers Tanner and Parker Johnson claimed the WPGA Brothers Championship in 2024, while Parker also earned honors in the 100th Father/Son Tournament. Several other Peters Township grads finished highly in West Penn and USGA events, including Jimmy Ellis, who took medalist honors at the 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship.

“Our players and our alumni have won every event in the West Penn, “Kuhn said proudly. “Probably Pennsylvania Golf events, as well. Just about every event in the region.

“We challenge our players to compete at the highest level and against the best people, to put themselves out there and learn how to win. And learn how to lose.”

More importantly, Kuhn also works hard to develop his players as people, implementing an acronym called P.A.R. which stands for Performance, Academics and Responsibility.

It’s done in an effort to make those he works with well-rounded individuals who are set up for success in life, whether that includes golf or not. And Kuhn draws on his own experiences of making the best for yourself when initial hopes or expectations aren’t met.

“Golf took me from a place where, after baseball, I was unfocused and sort of just treading water,” he says. “It taught me discipline. It made me a better student and better person. It moved me into something I fell in love with.

“From the beginning, I’ve thought that there’s more to this than being talented and hitting shots.”

Nowadays, Kuhn has college coaches reaching out often, asking him what players he is working with who would be good fits for their program. Those coaches trust Kuhn and trust his players because of the standard of overall excellence that’s been drilled into them for years.

Looking forward, the Peters Township School District is working to finish building the program a unique golf training facility at the newly constructed high school, which sits on the site of the former Rolling Hills Country Club.

It’s a commitment and show of appreciate and support for the program that has been among the state’s elite over the last decade. Not only will the facility be used to aid the Indians’ program, but also will be available for youth golfers in the region who lack an adequate training facility.

“We want our kids to do some outreach,” said Kuhn, who will have his players aid in training younger players when the facility is completed. “It will be great for them with the leadership and development of personal skills.”

And that, beyond the birdies, the wins, the championships and the awards, is why Kuhn does what he does. He wants to respect and honor the game, and wants the next generation to do so, as well.

“I just want kids to not only be able to play, but I want to have very little concern with them in the classroom,” he said. “And then little concern with them outside of the classroom, in the community, as people.”

For media inquiries, please contact WPGA Director of Communications Josh Rowntree.

About the WPGA
Founded in 1899, the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association is the steward of amateur golf in the region. Started by five Member Clubs, the association now has nearly 200 Member Clubs and nearly 37,000 members. The WPGA conducts 14 individual competitions and 10 team events, and administers the WPGA Scholarship Fund and Western Pennsylvania Golf Hall of Fame.