{"id":14290,"date":"2026-08-20T14:51:31","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T19:51:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blueprint\/?p=14290"},"modified":"2026-08-20T14:54:19","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T19:54:19","slug":"2026-blue-kc-coaches-with-character-honoree-drew-garner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blueprint\/community-and-culture\/sports-partnerships-community-and-culture\/2026-blue-kc-coaches-with-character-honoree-drew-garner\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 Blue KC Coaches With Character Honoree Drew Garner"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Turner High School Girls and Boys Golf Coach featured the month of August<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) and the \u201cC\u201d You in the Major Leagues (CYITML) Foundation have announced Turner High School girls and boys head golf coach Drew Garner as the Blue KC Coaches with Character honoree for the month of August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know that golf opens doors that a lot of people don\u2019t realize are out there, so I want our kids to have those opportunities,\u201d said Garner. \u201cI\u2019m always looking for different practice ideas, drills, course management strategies or little tips that might help our golfers improve.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more than a decade, Garner has been at the head of the golf program for Turner High School \u2013 15 years as the girls coach and 10 years coaching the boys. He\u2019s experienced the highs and lows of competition, but every season he returns to his core values that help strengthen everyone within the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe try to help our players focus on getting better one shot at a time,\u201d said Garner. \u201cGolf can be frustrating. Some days you\u2019re hitting it great, and other days nothing seems to go right. I tell our student-athletes to have fun and enjoy the game, while also learning how to do it the correct and proper way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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KANSAS CITY, MO – August 18: Photo from a game between the Kansas City Royals and the Athletics Tuesday, August 18 2026, in Kansas City, MO (Photo by Amy Kontras\/ Kansas City Royals)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

With a lengthy tenure at Turner High School, Garner leans on his familiarity with the school, administration, and facilities to help him maximize his coaching and get the best out of his student-athletes on a day-to-day basis. He wants golf to be accessible to anyone who has interest, while taking pride in watching his players improve throughout the season, during their high school careers, and ultimately in state tournaments that lead to potential scholarship opportunities at the next level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of our golfers have never picked up a golf club before they come out for the team, and a lot of them don\u2019t even own clubs,\u201d said Garner. \u201cThankfully, we\u2019ve had a lot of support from community members, teachers, country clubs, and former players who have donated clubs over the years. These donations have made a huge difference for our program.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Garner has always gone the extra mile to help his golfers and has been using a simple phrase for nearly the past 20 years that allows him to put everything in perspective: \u2018Live life with PASSION\u2019. This mindset has allowed him to prioritize the things that matter most \u2013 his family, coaching, teaching, health, and the people around him. He continually reminds himself that if he\u2019s going to do something, he wants to do it with purpose and passion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI try to meet every kid where they\u2019re at,\u201d said Garner. \u201cEvery player is different. Some need additional help with their swing. Others need help with course management or someone to listen to them. One thing our team always does on the drive home from practice is answering these four questions: What did you learn today? What do you need to work on? What did you do well? And did you have fun? It keeps everyone thinking about getting a little better every day, while also remembering to enjoy the game.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDrew defines what it means to be a leader, mentor, and advocate for student-athletes in an urban high school setting, where the barriers to entry for a sport like golf can often feel insurmountable,\u201d said Garner\u2019s nominator David Hagan. \u201cDrew refuses to let financial circumstances dictate a student’s potential or hinder their desire to play. He works tirelessly year-round, leveraging community connections, organizing fundraisers, and seeking out donations to secure clubs, bags, balls, and any other gear his players need. He doesn\u2019t just coach swing mechanics; he invests deeply in the personal growth, academic success, and future prospects of every kid on his roster.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe longevity Drew has shown to the Turner High School community is admirable and exemplifies his passion and commitment to student-athletes and the game of golf,\u201d said Jenny Housley, Blue KC President. \u201cHe runs an efficient and commendable program and teaches high schoolers the essentials they need to learn, grow, and prepare for next chapters of their lives. It\u2019s an honor to recognize him for the Blue KC Coaches with Character award. Congratulations!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne of the things I love most about coaching golf is that you\u2019re walking alongside your players for four or five hours,\u201d said Garner. \u201cYou end up talking about school, family, future plans, and life \u2013 not just golf. Some of the best conversations happen between shots.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blue KC Coaches with Character recipients are honored monthly at Kauffman Stadium during Kansas City Royals home games, and fans are encouraged to nominate high school coaches who are making a positive impact on their schools and communities by using the form online at https:\/\/www.BlueKC.com\/NominateCoachesWithCharacter<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Blue KC supports the Kansas City community through impactful sports partnership programs<\/h3>

Blue KC Coaches With Character program<\/p> <\/div>\n

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