Golf was as intertwined in his body as the blood flowing through it – and that was not an understatement. Golf was not a part of life – it was a way of life. Golf was even incorporated into the convertible that he drove, proudly donning the license plate “NUT4GOF.”
For the late Owatonna Boys Golf Coach Keith Bangs, it wasn’t just about playing and coaching golf that mattered. It was about how that business was conducted – with utmost class and integrity. He was known to his former players as one of two titles – Coach Bangs or Mr. Bangs. I distinctly remember Coach talking about these two names as an element of respect. He repeatedly earned that respect from his players and fellow coaches and was the first one to send it back your way.
Bangs engineered an illustrious career that landed him an induction into the Minnesota Golf Coaches Hall of Fame (2003) as well as a spot in the Owatonna High School Hall of Fame (2023). From 1982-2016 at OHS, he compiled an overall record of 2508-849 (a winning percentage of 74.7). Bangs also had many sayings that he coined along the course of his OHS golf coaching career, with the most notable being, “In Owatonna golf, we don’t rebuild – we reload.”
In speaking with former Owatonna High School standout golfer Patrick Hall (one of the bullets that was reloaded), one distinct thing always stood out when he thought of Coach Bangs that was not just about the wins and losses. “His philosophy on the game is what stood out to me when I thought back about my career with Coach,” Hall said. “We played 18 holes in all weather conditions, and he was right there playing with us. We might not have enjoyed absolutely every round in the early season in Minnesota, but when we got to a meet or invitational, we were always more prepared than anyone else there. Coach’s philosophy taught us how to score and get the ball in the hole regardless of the conditions we faced and that benefited me and the rest of the team.”
Coach’s forte was the mental approach to the game. What goes on between your ears is of equal or more importance to the swinging of the club itself. When push came to shove, Bangs always seemed to have the right words for the situation. “Coach would typically say the right thing at the right time,” Hall said. “We might have had a bad round for example in the conference tournament and we knew he was disappointed, but Coach always knew the right buttons to press in the right way like any great coach does to get us ready for the section tournament which was the big one.”
Golf is also known as a gentleman’s game. This is something that former Owatonna High School Athletic Director Ryan Swanson thought Bangs embodied to a tee. “Coach Bangs was the ultimate gentleman which was fitting given the sport of golf that he coached,” Swanson said. “He was also the epitome of what you wanted in a coach. He showed high moral and ethical standards, was a strong leader and that is exactly what we hope for from an excellent coach.”
Nearly a month ago, we lost Coach after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s Disease. However, I would argue he did not lose. He may no longer be physically with us, but I will always remember how he fought until the last day with integrity and class. He persevered through his battle no differently than a golf round. Some days (holes) were good, and some were not – but in the very face of adversity, Coach fought with grit and determination. He never gave up (in life or during a golf round) because, as he preached to his players, every shot matters (as does every day).
Having had Bangs as a coach, stepfather and mentor brought memories that I will never forget. Likewise, the impact that he had on thousands of students and athletes throughout the years will not soon be forgotten. His patience and calm demeanor was truly one-of-a-kind!
Rest in peace, Coach! Swing away – you’re next on the tee!
UPDATE: Long Drive Competitor Joe Foley competed in the Ultimate Long Drive World Event September 25-28 in West Columbia, SC. During warm-ups on opening day, Foley disclosed that his back started tightening up. “My lower back felt like there was a knife sticking in me,” Foley stated. “It was unfortunate to sustain an injury the first morning, but I still competed and placed in the middle tier.” Foley confirmed that after suffering the setback, he finished on the outside looking in. He finished less than 10 yards from continuing in the top 16 round of competition. Foley did affirm that he was feeling progressively better each day, and he hopes that his injury will be short lived. After finishing the year in third place, there is little downtime for Foley as he will plan to compete in a Midwest Regional Qualifier in Montgomery, Minn. on November 9. If weather does not cooperate, the competition will be moved to an indoor facility (Mulligans) in Plymouth, Minn.
THE HUSKY BULLETIN 