Jean-François Richard is passionate about Golf. As soon as his schedule allows, he finds himself in the field teaching his art. PGA Canada wanted to highlight his dedication and commitment by awarding him the title of coach of the year in the country.
In 2024, he received the title of Teacher of the Year from PGA Canada (George Knudson Prize).
It is with great humility and pride that he welcomes this great reward.
“I was very surprised last year and I am again this year. I am obviously very happy. “He of course has a feeling of satisfaction that comes with that, because, essentially, it’s a prize that is given by a committee of my peers, of my colleagues,” he says.
Richard offers lessons to golfers of all age groups.
He works in particular with some of the best amateur and senior golfers in New Brunswick.
He is also the coach of the provincial junior men’s team and will lead the 2025 Canada Games team.
The coach from Saint-Antoine-de-Kent also offers his services to the Louis Melanson Golf Academy.
All this on the sidelines of his job as a teacher of kinesiology and educational sciences at the University of Moncton.
He offers private lessons to approximately 200 people per year.
His track record is rather impressive.
He held a position as sprint coach for the Université Laval athletics team, before leading the Université de Moncton team.
He was goaltending coach for the Aigles Bleus of the Université de Moncton in the early 1990s, under the orders of Len Doucet and Pete Belliveau.
He notably managed Frantz Jean, today goaltending coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL.
In 2017, he fell in love with golf and his life would never be the same.
“I became a golf enthusiast in my thirties. I finally joined the PGA of Canada in 2017,” explains the 58-year-old coach.
Today he is a trainer for this organization, that is to say he offers training to the organization’s coaches.
“I offer courses at the multi-sport training level (National Coaching Certification Program), for example at the athletic skills development level. All coaches can benefit from it, whether they lead volleyball or hockey teams,” he says.
For him, teaching is a true vocation.
“I have always loved working with people and helping them develop their full potential. That’s my great satisfaction. If someone is willing to put in the time, I have all the time in the world to support them. That’s my passion,” he says.
“Never in my sweetest dreams could I have thought that I would be recognized by my colleagues in this way on a national level.”
He will be officially awarded his prize (the Ben Kern Prize) on January 22 in Orlando, Florida, as part of a gigantic exhibition organized by the American branch of the PGA.
During this “Canada Night”, 13 different prizes will be awarded.
