GET TO KNOW THE COACHES: TOM YOST, PIEDRA VISTA
Tom Yost is in his 5th year as the golf coach at Piedra Vista High School. He arrived in the Land of Enchantment after growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio. “I went to a football powerhouse called Archbishop Moeller High School,” he said. “I wasn’t a football player, though. I was the kid getting shoved in the locker before golf was cool.” After helping his high school golf team qualify for state, he took his talents to New Mexico State for the Professional Golf Management School. “It was sight unseen and it turned out to be a really good choice,” said Yost. As a coach, he’s led the Piedra Vista Panthers to back-to-back state championships.
Get to know a little more about Tom Yost.
What was your favorite moment as a high school athlete?
Qualifying for state in the fall of 1992 was my favorite moment because we had never been and that was our goal. It’s so hard to do in Ohio, they take so few schools. You have finish top three in your city and top three in your region and it’s pretty stacked.
What’s your favorite moment as a high school coach?
This is going to sound weird, but it’s probably the bus ride home from Roswell after we had just lost the state championship (because of a scorecard error). The first hour was very somber with tears and emotions, but the last four hours was about getting the guys together and putting a plan together to win the next two years. I’ll never forget that ride home. They took a negative and turned into a positive. That set everything into motion the next two years winning state.
What teacher or coach had the most influence on you?
There are so many, it’s hard to say. The biggest mentor I’ve had is Pat Gavin who was the director of the Professional Golf Management Program at NMSU. He jumped in front of buses to make sure my career succeeded, advancing as a player, person and future coach.
What was your favorite subject in school?
Math. Math for some reason made sense to me. From algebra to calculus, it wasn’t easy but it wasn’t difficult to the point I would give up. It was a challenge to get the answer.
What tv shows do you watch on a regular basis?
I’m a big fan of The Office, I’ve watched that a couple times through. I love Breaking Bad.
Right now, we’re really into Ozark. I also like Arrested Development.
What’s your favorite candy?
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. If I was allergic to peanut butter, I don’t know what I’d do.
If I called up the music on your iPod, what artist would I see the most songs from?
This is easy, anybody who knows me knows this. It’s Phish. I’ve seen them 33 times.
34 and 35 are supposed to happen this Labor Day, but I don’t know if that’s going to happen.
If you could go on vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Ireland. My wife wants to take me to Europe, but I tell her that’s a bad idea because I’d just want to play golf.
If you could only have one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Poke bowls
What’s your life motto or a saying you always keep in mind?
In any crisis situation there are going to be winners and losers coming out the other end, but based on how you react will determine a lot. If you take the time to see opportunity, you’ll succeed. That goes back to that trip coming back from Roswell. We shed tears, but formulated a plan going forward. I’m a firm believer that’s why we were successful.
