Jack Kelly, Lisa Johnson tabbed as USNDP Team Washington's first coaches

Tacoma, Wash. - Jack Kelly of Bellevue, Wash. and Lisa Johnson of Oak Harbor, Wash. have each been named as the coaches leading up to the launch of Team Washington of the USGA's U.S. National Development Program (USNDP). Founded in 2024, the USNDP aims to expand, strengthen and diversify the junior golf pipeline by creating critical development, competitive and talent identification opportunities within each U.S. state for elite athletes aged 13-18.

Both candidates bring a wealth of golf instruction and coaching experience to Team Washington. Kelly is a Class-A PGA member who has served as director of instruction and player development at Glendale Country Club since September 2021. In that role, he has organized, led and developed the club's junior programs as well as its PGA Jr. League team. Kelly is held in very high regard by his peers and has been voted and named on the Best Young Teachers in America list by Golf Digest since 2025 and on the Best Teachers in Washington list by Golf Digest since 2024.

"It means a lot to me to serve and give back to our state juniors," said Kelly, who is originally from North Bend, Wash. and had a decorated junior career of his own. "It's a tremendous honor and I'm just so excited to be here at the start of this great program."

In his coaching capacities, Kelly has seen firsthand the high level of junior golf talent that exists in Washington, a fact that only makes him more honored to contribute to it on a nationally visible level. Used to representing his home state in PGA-related affairs, he is ready to do so through the USGA's program.

"Washington is in my blood, and golf is in my blood," he said. "I very proudly represent our state and relate to the Pacific Northwest, and I take a lot of pride in representing our state for the game."

Johnson has coached golf in several states and, at a collegiate level, has been the head women's golf coach at Boise State University (2002-07), the University of Idaho (2007-2019) and the University of Nebraska (2019-22). She also was head coach of the boys' team at Lakeridge High School in Lake Oswego, Ore. in 2023 and 2024, concurrently leading the girls' program in 2023, and was named the Three Rivers League Coach of the Year in 2024.

She has been Whidbey Golf Club’s Class-A PGA golf instructor since August 2024 and oversees all junior programming and instruction there.

"I've always loved coaching and this is an amazing opportunity to start on the ground floor and build a very successful program with Team Washington," Johnson said of her new position. "I look forward to helping guide and shape the future of elite junior golfers in the state of Washington. I enjoy that building-of-a-relationship, gaining a player's trust, helping identify what motivates them and giving them information that can help improve their game."

Johnson and Kelly's appointments come several weeks after the announcement that former University of Washington Head Women's Coach Mary Lou Mulflur would serve as captain of Team Washington, altogether representing what has become a very strong leadership structure ahead of the team's inaugural 2027 season.

"It is our honor to bring in Jack Kelly and Lisa Johnson as coaches for Team Washington of the USNDP," said Nate Schroeder, WA Golf's senior director of championships and golf operations. "They know Washington inside and out, and their leadership, expertise and commitment to developing the next generation of Washingtonian golfers will be an incredible asset as we begin to build our team and represent our state on this national stage."

The first players for Team Washington’s inaugural year will be selected this fall by an advisory committee comprised of representatives from Washington Golf, Washington Junior Golf Association, the Pacific Northwest PGA Section and the Oregon Golf Association. Players will earn their way onto the team by accumulating points and demonstrating competitive performance in select 2026 events. There will be 12 boys and 12 girls selected.

About the U.S. National Development Program

The USNDP is designed to ensure that American golf is the global leader in the game by focusing on six key pillars: talent identification, access to competition, national teams, athlete resources, player development and relations and athlete financial support. The state junior team program will focus on creating a developmentally appropriate, aspirational pathway for athletes within each state to compete at higher levels of the game.

About Washington Golf

Founded in 1922, WA Golf is a 501c4 non-profit amateur golf association governed by men and women volunteers that has grown into one of the largest golf associations in the United States, providing a multitude of member benefits and services to more than 103,000 golfers, 520 member clubs, and 260 golf facilities throughout Washington and Northern Idaho. WA Golf also serves as the statewide representative of the United States Golf Association and works closely with a number of allied associations within the golf industry for the betterment of the game. Visit wagolf.org for more information.