Inductees

Need an inspiring story? Want to point to a mom whose mental strength led her into coaching, and then led teenage girls golfers to success? And helped them accomplish far more than the hardware in a trophy case?

Dana Hoeper certainly is worthy of a centerpiece story on the Sports page.

In late 1999, with her oldest daughter on the golf team at Notre Dame de Sion High School, Hoeper (pronounced Hay-per) kept urging the athletic director to enter the team in more events and try her ideas.

“So, at the end of the year, he asked me if I would like to coach,” Hoeper said.

Despite having never played the game until her late 20s, Hoeper took the ball, so to speak, and teed it up for a drive that lasted the next 21 seasons and featured six state championships. Which is why the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame proudly inducted Hoeper with the Class of 2020.

Hoeper retired in October 2020 as the second-winningest golf coach in MSHSAA history. She guided 20 teams to state appearances, and six won it all (2001, 2002, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010). Six others finished as state runners-up — 2000, 2004, 2006, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020. Three placed third and another was fourth.

Seventeen girls played in college, including eight in NCAA Division I.

Call it pure determination by a mom who studied the game and, then as Sion’s coach, didn’t bark orders but balanced being a mom and mentor.

Interestingly, she didn’t play golf until turning 27, at which point she and her husband, Sam, joined Blue Hills Country Club and played regularly in leagues and couples events. Their daughters Emily and Ellen tagged along.

At one point, Stan Thirsk – the longtime instructor for Tom Watson (MSHOF 1984) – began providing lessons for Emily, then 9. Hoeper studied every detail.

“As we traveled to tournaments, I quickly realized how much competitive golf could teach you; not only about yourself but about life in general,” said Hoeper, a graduate of Grandview High School (1976) and the University of Missouri (1980).

Eventually, she was hired after the end of Emily’s freshman season, in 1999.

“My biggest concern was for Emily. I didn’t want her to feel hindered with her mom as the coach and, of course, you always worry that people will think you play favorites,” Hoeper said.

One of her principles? She never cut a player from the team.

Sion was a state runner-up in Hoeper’s first full season (2000).

Overall, Hoeper guided four girls to a combined six state championships: Emily (2000, Class 3-4), Ellen (2002, Class 2), Celeste Gasman (2008 co-medalist) and Megan Propeck (2017 & 2018 in Class 2, 2020 in Class 4). Eighteen teams won district titles.

“I owe a lot to the Blue Springs and Blue Springs South coaches at the time, as they welcomed me and helped me get connected,” said Hoeper, who launched tournaments for varsity and junior varsity golfers, including the MOKAN Tournament for Kansas City-area varsity teams.

Hoeper rarely said much on the course unless golfers needed moral support or asked for advice.

“I really think the coaching part takes place in promoting team chemistry, holding challenging practices, rules instruction, golf course management, and teaching a variety of shots, especially with the short game,” Hoeper said. “Once they hit the course, it is time for them to be their own coach.”

Certainly, she challenged those with natural ability but also brought along novices.

One year, a novice freshman contributed to a state title. She won districts in a playoff against another Sion golfer, earning the No. 5 spot. At districts, another player fell ill, so the freshman’s core helped Sion win districts to advance to state as team. The golfer then shot a 91-81 to help win state. She became a team leader on several more state title teams.

Then were Emily and Ellen.

“Coaching my daughters was a blessing I will always cherish,” Hoeper said. “They were both good sports and never complained. I tried to treat them as just another member of the team.”

What a run it was.

“I have loved coaching and am going to miss it for sure,” Hoeper said. “It will never cease to amaze me how these girls come in as naive and somewhat insecure freshman and leave as beautiful, self-confident women ready to take on college and beyond. It is an incredible metamorphosis.”

Actually, an incredible story by an incredible coach.