SOPER TO LEAVE COLLEGE COACHING POSITION

Longtime college golf coach Dan Soper has decided to leave his coaching duties at Iowa Lakes.  

Soper has been coaching men’s and women’s golf for 14 years and will wrap up his coaching career in August.

“Dan has done an outstanding job at Iowa Lakes.  He has consistently recruited high quality student athletes allowing his teams to be very competitive.  His knowledge of the game of golf is first rate; he does a great job of teaching young men and women the game,” said Troy Larson, Athletics Director.

“I decided the time was right to move on,” Soper said.  “I have peace of mind knowing the golf program is in very good shape and we have built something here the right way around a group of student athletes who year in and year out have been willing to be a part of something bigger than themselves.”

Dan Soper

 
And that attitude starts at the top.

“Dan has served as a role model for student athletes at Iowa Lakes.  He has outstanding character and a deep passion for the student athletes that he has coached,” Larson said.

The program has always been about the students – and their families.

“As I look back what I will remember the most is all the relationships that have been developed with the players and their families – many of whom I will have lifelong friendships with.  I was fortunate to have many outstanding players but really, they are even better people,” Soper said. 

Soper had the unique opportunity to coach his children: Jeff, Andy and Ricca – all of whom advanced to national competition.

“Being the son or daughter of a coach is never easy and they all handled it well because they worked hard to reach goals just like the rest of their team mates,” Soper said.  “To be able to have each to them as part of the program for two years as players and seeing them each compete at Nationals was certainly special just as it was to watch all of our 30 National Qualifiers who competed over the last 14 years.”

Looking back, Coach Soper realizes many people have impacted his life.

“I would like to personally thank a few people:  Bob Grems who was the Athletics Director in 1996 when I was hired.  Without the opportunity Bob extended to me none of this would have been possible.  Roger Guge, Darin Moeller, Jason Vande Brake and Troy Larson who are all the other Athletics Directors whom I have worked with and gave our golf program tremendous support,” the coach said.  “Also, the late George Hess – who was my high school golf and basketball coach and a wonderful mentor.  Finally, my late parents, Les and Kathy Soper.  They were the greatest influences in my life.”

Coach Soper will be ‘on the job’ through August. 

“My immediate future plans are to continue working at my full-time job and to get our men's and women's team ready for the upcoming spring season as well as help our recruits coming in this fall with their transition from high school to becoming part of the Laker Golf program,” Coach Soper said.

But, no doubt, he’ll be missed in the future.

“His athletes are better having gone through his program,” Larson said.  “He will be missed at Iowa Lakes.”