Recently, Falcon Media Sports Network’s Aiden Brueck had the opportunity to have a sit-down conversation with BGSU men’s golf head coach John Powers, who discussed his time at Bowling Green, the team, this season and more.

Here is the full conversation:

Brueck: Coach, first of all, thanks for sitting down with us.

Powers: Yep, thanks for having me.

Brueck: I know it’s been kind of a long day here at the golf facility.

Powers: Oh, it’s just getting started.

Brueck: So if I’m not mistaken, you’re entering your eighth season—versus ninth?

Powers: Sort of. I came in the middle of the academic year, in Jan. 2018, right at the turn of the semester. The team had a coach before me, Kevin Farrell. He had resigned his position to go back home and restart a program at Mount St. Mary’s University.

So I had the spring semester in 2018, and then the 2018–19 season was my first full year. It’s a place I grew up in—I went to school here and played my college golf here. But it’s different when you come back as a coach.

Bowling Green had changed so much between 2010 and when I returned in 2018. I was just incredibly grateful for everything that had happened—both on campus and in the community.

As someone who grew up in this town, sometimes you wonder what else is out there for you. Having had the opportunity to go out and experience different environments made me even more appreciative of this place—not just the size of the community, but its proximity to big cities, and the way you get to know everyone here. That just doesn’t compare anywhere else.

And that’s the biggest reason I’m still here—and why I don’t want to go anywhere. It’s a big family here.

Brueck: Absolutely. So, with that being said, it’s a new group every year. How are you applying the lesson you just talked about to the group you have now?

Powers: I think they understand pretty quickly that this is a unique place. Whether you like it or not, everyone is going to get to know your name and your face. That’s something we really emphasize in the recruiting process. We want our guys to embrace that.

They love being out at Stone Ridge, where we’re welcomed with open arms. They get to know the staff, the members, and everyone involved with the facility. That support system is what drives you forward—whether you’re succeeding or struggling with your game. People are rooting for you. They know who we are when we’re carrying the bag, wearing the shirt. That’s a huge motivator.

It all starts with the qualifying rounds here at home—those are high-pressure situations. Guys are playing for their spots. Then you go to a tournament environment, and it’s a whole different kind of pressure. But every tournament, in my eyes, has equal value.

Every time we step onto a new course with different conditions and competitive fields, we learn something about our players—what they’re doing well, what needs improvement. We’re constantly evaluating.

Team golf is interesting. A lot of people think it’s just about the scores, but we count four out of five. So we’re looking at the steady player versus the one who might go really low but has more volatility. There are a lot of factors to consider, and we’re always keeping a close eye on that.

In the fall, you typically see different lineups. That’s common across the board. In the spring, things start to solidify. You get a better idea of how the lineup will look. But in the fall, you’ll see week-to-week changes. Very few teams rely on the same five guys every week.

Luckily, we have a few tournaments where we can bring more than one extra individual competitor, so we get to see a lot of guys put competitive rounds on the board.

Brueck: When you’re working with your players during tournaments—or even qualifying rounds—how hands-on are you with their strategy? Or do you let them figure it out on the course?

Powers: We’re very hands-on with strategy in the lead-up to the tournament. Ideally, players are well-prepared before the lights come on and it’s time to play.

We’re allowed to have two coaches on the course during tournament play, so we can provide support while it’s happening. Sometimes, a coach is stationed at a specific part of the course where we know it gets tricky—whether it’s a tough hole or a spot requiring complex calculations. Other times, we’ll walk with a player for a few holes, basically acting as their caddie.

This year, we have two assistant coaches in addition to myself. We’re still working on which coaches pair best with which players. That’s all part of the process this fall—refining our methods and getting things dialed in.

Ultimately, the goal is the MAC Championship. That’s always front of mind for us.

This year’s group is probably the most diverse we’ve ever had. They bring a wide variety of perspectives and backgrounds, and it’s been a lot of fun. So many different personalities—we’ve got guys from all over the country, from Ontario, from Europe. There’s so much to talk about, not just in golf but in life and where they come from. That adds real perspective for everyone involved.

It helps us grow as a group—on the course and off.

Brueck: If you could sum up your goals for the 2025–2026 season in one word, before the heart of the season begins, what would it be?

Powers: Progress. Every week. Four guys just played their first Division I tournament this past week in our first event. It’s not that we’re short on golf experience—but Division I golf is a whole different animal.

The courses are longer. The hole locations are tougher. The competition is stronger. You’ve got to drive it straighter. All those things add up to a challenging environment—and it takes time to learn, adjust, and get comfortable in that arena.