Whitlock is in his third season as the Johnnies' golf coach in 2022-23. SJU won its second consecutive conference title (14th overall) at the 2021 MIAC Championships, shooting 14-under-par over the three-day, 45-hole conference tournament. The win clinched the Johnnies' 19th appearance at the NCAA Division III Championship in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla., where SJU finished 26th out of 43 teams. Whitlock was named the MIAC Men's Golf Co-Coach of the Year with Bob Alpers '82 after SJU won its 13th MIAC title in record-setting fashion in 2020-21. The Johnnies shattered the 54-hole, championship-meet record with a three-day total of 850 (284-281-285), besting the previous record-low (set by SJU in 2006) by 27 shots. SJU made its 18th appearance at the Division III Championship and tied for 15th.
Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay area, Whitlock started playing golf at age 15 and turned professional at age 18. He spent the better part of 17 years playing and teaching golf all over the world until 2007.
Whitlock moved to Minnesota in 2008 and is currently the head of instruction at the Johnnies’ home course, Blackberry Ridge G.C. in Sartell, where he helped open a full indoor and outdoor teaching academy in 2021. Whitlock and his wife, Melissa, have three sons and live in Sartell. In their spare time, they foster special needs animals for the Humane Society.
