Joe Plecker '90 Named Loyola Blakefield Varsity Golf Coach

Joseph Plecker ’90 has been named Loyola Blakefield’s new varsity golf coach. His love and expertise for the sport dates to his time at Loyola Blakefield where he played varsity golf for Marty Stewart ’64 from 1987–90, the team winning the Maryland Scholastic Association (MSA) Championship (predecessor of the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association) in ’88 and ’89. He went on to attend Seton Hall, where he was a member of the 1992 Big East Championship Golf Team.

Plecker turned pro in 1998 when he was elected to membership of the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA). He was named the first Director of Instruction at the Baltimore Country Club, where he worked for ten years. Other places where he has instructed include the Golf Academy at Chelsea Piers in Manhattan and Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, FL. Most recently, Plecker has served as the Director of Golf Instruction at the Elkridge Club in Baltimore for the past three years.

During his tenure as an instructor, he has been named the Mid-Atlantic PGA Teacher of the Year (2007) and one of Golf Digest’s Best Instructors in Maryland (2007–14). He was selected as a national finalist for the Mid-Atlantic PGA Horton Smith Award in 2010 and was named a Golf Digest National Top 40 Instructor Under 40 for 2010–11. In 2016, he earned Master Professional status from the PGA of America, a distinction fewer than 500 members of the 28,000 total members of the PGA can claim. Most recently, he was named a Top 100 Teacher in America by GOLF Magazine this year.

Plecker is also a member of the PGA of America’s adjunct faculty and teaches the next generation of PGA professionals. He has been a guest on many TV shows, hosted and appeared on XM/Sirius Satellite Radio’s PGA Tour Channel and 105.7 The Fan and provided instructional content for Yahoo! Sports.

"Being named head coach of Loyola Blakefield’s golf program is quite an honor and something very special to me as a former player and lifelong Don,” said Plecker. “I am excited to have the opportunity with assistant coaches Brendan Moag ‘91 and Ben Shields ’09 to share with the students our passion for golf. I will never forget what it means to be a man for others, on and off the course. Our team will represent this ideal to its full potential."

“Our golf program has been and continues to be a strong program for us, and having Joe as our new coach will only enhance the experience for our players,” added Loyola Blakefield Athletic Director Michael Keeney ’65. “His knowledge of the game and his teaching experience are nationally recognized, and his allegiance to Loyola is also well known.”

Last year, Loyola Blakefield’s varsity golf team finished with a regular season record of 10-1-1 and made it to the MIAA “A” Conference Championship in the spring after defeating Calvert Hall in the semifinals, but lost to St. Paul’s in the finals. “I’m really hoping we can build on last year’s solid performance,” said Plecker.

Plecker currently resides in Baltimore with his wife, Bridget, and son, Colt.
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