Right man for the job: Jensen takes over JC golf programs

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Jamestown College did not have to look far, or hard, for its new head golf coach.

If there ever was a lay-up, slam dunk, or more appropriately, a tap-in hire for the job, it was Dustin Jensen.

Already the Executive Director of the Jimmie Booster Club, Jensen has added the title of head golf coach at his alma mater.

“It’s not something I was sitting around going after or pushing for, but with the 10 years of experience I have in the business, so to speak, it’s something I’m really excited about,” Jensen said.

Aside from being an accomplished golfer himself for the Jimmies back in the early 2000s, Jensen’s golf résumé is extensive.

Prior to returning to his hometown last year, he spent nearly a decade with the Colorado Golf Association in a variety of capacities.

On top of that, he’s also sits on the executive committee of the Junior America’s Cup, an international team championship, and he was just recently named as North Dakota’s committee representative for the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship.

Jensen takes over for Tyler Bormann, who also served as the assistant men’s basketball coach. Bormann left to become the head boys basketball coach at Breckenridge (Minn.) High School.

“Tyler did a great job and we’re just going to continue to build off that,” Jensen said.

The men’s team was particularly strong last year, going unbeaten in tournament in the area before advancing on to the A.I.I. National Tournament.

The women’s team needs some work, but Jensen has a plan for both programs.

“Coach (Tom) Hager has done an amazing job with the baseball program brining in a lot of kids to where he has strength in numbers and that builds in a lot of competition within the program and they’re consistently one of the best teams in the region,” Jensen said. “That would be my hope to kind of model ourselves after that.”

Jensen was a member of the JC team that advanced to the national tournament in 2000-01. It’s one of two times the program has qualified for nationals.

Doing so in the current set up is challenging because of the caliber of teams they’re up against in the A.I.I. — several from the south and a handful of the top Canadian teams.

“We’re in a very good position in the Upper Midwest,” Jensen said. “When you expand that out to the teams we ultimately have to compete against (in the A.I.I.) with the money they have and the other built-in advantages, that’s a different beast.

“Do I think we can get to that level? Absolutely, but there has to be sort of a paradigm shift and we’re going to have to work really hard to break through to that next level.”

Jensen’s extensive ties to various youth programs certainly should help in recruiting, but he plans to stress more than just the X’s and O’s.

“What this game teaches you plays a big part in life well beyond golf, and that’s a part of the whole experience,” he said. “We have so much to offer here. I’m really excited about getting out and giving kids the opportunity to play golf and doing so at such a special place.”

Sun sports editor Dave Selvig can be reached at (701) 952-8460 or by e-mail at dselvig@jamestownsun.com

Tags: sports, jimmies, golf