Herb Page’s legacy at Kent State goes beyond golf
KENT, Ohio (BVM) — You can’t talk about Kent State men’s golf without mentioning the name Herb Page.
Page, now retired, spent 41 years as the Kent State men’s golf coach from 1978-2019.
In Page’s time as coach, he produced 33 All-American Scholars and three NCAA regional titles.
The Flashes won 81 team tournament championships during his tenure and had 17 NCAA Championship appearances, including four top-10 finishes.
Page was instrumental in instituting a women’s golf program at Kent State, which began its first season in 1999 and has appeared in every Mid-American Conference (MAC) tournament since its existence.
Page’s impact on the Kent, Ohio community goes beyond golf. In 2007, the Kent State golf training facility was named the Ferrara and Page Facility in his honor.
In 2008, he was presented with the Golf Coaches Association of America Labron Harris Sr. Award. Named after the late Oklahoma State men’s golf coach, Labron Harris Sr., the award is presented to a high school or college coach and a PGA Professional who helped grow the game of golf in a positive way.
Throughout his 41 years in coaching, Page helped mentor some of the all-time great golfers, including Ben Curtis — who won The Open Championship in 2003 and tied for second in the PGA Championship in 2008.
Page was not only a great teacher on the golf course, but he was a terrific recruiter. Page’s 1995 and 1999 squads ranked No. 7 in the entire country entering each season, a record that still remains to this day.
In an interview with Golfweek, Steve Parker, the Director of Golf at Portage County Country Club, said Page’s best trait was the relationships he built with his players.
“I know other players who have gone to other universities, and they’ve had little to do with their golf program,” Parker said. “They don’t have that friendship and that fraternity. That’s really what I think his lasting legacy is, not only the success he had in the golf program, but the fraternity of players that he has developed.”
Page’s replacement, Jon Mills, played under Page from 1998 to 2002 and was a two-time All-American. In an interview with Golf News Now, Mills talked about what it felt like on the day of Page’s retirement.
“His influence on my whole career has been huge,” Mills said. “He gave me the opportunity to come to Kent State and play for him, and he helped me out a lot with my development, and now for it to come full circle, and for me to have the opportunity to learn from him as a coach, looking back it’s crazy. I never thought I would be in this position, but I always have enjoyed being around kids and teaching, so you couldn’t have scripted it any better.”
At his retirement ceremony in March 2019, Page thanked Kent State for being home to him, not only as a coach, but as a student as well.
“Kent State means so much to me,” Page said. “I am forever grateful to the University, and all of the administrators, staff and student-athletes I have had the privilege of coaching, who made our golf program so successful. This is my alma mater, and the Kent community has been my home ever since. I am indebted to the wonderful student-athletes I have worked with. It is humbling to reflect on all that they have achieved over the past 41 years and the amazing memories that we have made together.”
At the ceremony, former Kent State President Beverly Warren spoke volumes of Page.
“Coach Page defines the epitome of the true grit, determination and can-do attitude that abounds right here at Kent State,” Warren said.
