KENOSHA, Wis. - The Carthage College athletic department is pleased to announce the hiring of John Sams as the program's seventh head women's golf coach. Sams brings a wealth of experience to Kenosha, having previously served as an assistant golf professional and having coached to a championship standard at the high school level for the past seven years. 

"I am truly excited for the new challenge to Coach at the next level and would like to thank Coach Jay Christiansen along with Nate Stewart and John Sung for this great opportunity," said Sams. 

"With the support and commitment from Carthage, I am honored to work and build on maintaining the level and expectations of the program set by Brandy Johnston before me. I can't wait to get to know this inspiring group and look to build our Carthage golf family for the future."

Sams takes over the reins of the women's golf program after spending the last seven years as the head boy's and girls golf coach at Kettle Moraine HS in Waukesha County. Coach Sams guided six different girl's teams to Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) State Tournament appearances, and coached his 2021 team to a Division I WIAA State Golf Tournament title. Sams coached the boy's team to five different WIAA State Tournament appearances, and won the 2020-2021 state title. His 2021-2022 team finished as state tournament runner-ups. 

"John brings a fantastic combination of knowledge, enthusiasm, work ethic, and passion," said Carthage College Director of Golf Jay Christiansen.

"As one can tell from the success of his teams, he finds a way for his personality to rub off on his players. There is so much that goes into creating a skilled player who can consistently perform at a high level under the pressures that highly-competitive golf can present, and John has a knack for finding the right formula," said Christiansen. 

Prior to his stint at Kettle Moraine, Sams served as an Assistant Golf Professional at Waupaca Community College as well as at Reid Municipal Golf Course in Appleton, Wisconsin. Sams earned his Professional Golf Association Teaching Certification in 1991. 

Mr. Sams graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point in 1991, and was a member of the UW-Stevens Point men's golf team from 1987-1991. 

Sams and his wife Donna reside in Delafield, Wisconsin. They are the proud parents of their adult daughter Caitlin and her husband Michael.