Kahler named to IHSGCA Hall of Fame

Former Linn-Mar golf coach Steve Kahler entered select company.The longtime Lions boys and girls golf coach was one of two inductees to the

Iowa High School Golf Coaches Association Coaches Hall of Fame announced Monday. Kahler and Aurelia's Tom Bohenkamp are the 30th and 31st members and will be honored at the Iowa State High School Golf Coaches Clinic in March at Ames.Kahler recently retired from coaching physical education and coaching, following a knee injury during class in the spring. Linn-Mar Athletics Director Scott Mahmens  confirmed the retirement, saying that interviews for a replacement will begin soon.Kahler becomes the second Linn-Mar golf coach inducted into the IHSGCA Hall of Fame. Linda Frisch was inducted in 2006. Kahler's assistant, Bill Hoefle, was inducted to the IHSGCA Players Hall of Fame earlier this year. He was a standout for Ames High School in the 1980's. The only other Metro representative in the IHSGCA Hall of Fame is former Cedar Rapids Washington golfer Susan Harman, who won state titles in 1967 and 1969.The former Waterloo West prep coached boys' golf at Linn-Mar for 28 years, leading the girls program the last decade. Kahler guided the Lions to nine total Mississippi Valley Conference titles, including six boys' crowns. Nine teams qualified for the Iowa High School Athletic Association state meets with the latest of two third-place finishes in 2004. The Linn-Mar boys' team was fourth in 2007, qualifying in 2011.Five individuals competed at state. Kahler coached three-time state runner-up Marc Gladson (2002-04) and Brad George, who placed third at state in 2006 and 2007.Kahler guided the Lions to the 2011 Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union Class 4A state meet. He coached two girls players to the state, including Amanda Stahl, who tied for the best score in 2007 but was considered a runner-up due to a tiebreaker of better second-round score.He also coached two State Co-Ed winning teams. Kahler has been involved in youth golf programs in the Metro area since 1990, serving as Commissioner of the Greater Cedar Rapids Junior Golf Association from 1990-2005. He still hosts Junior Golf clinics at Hunters Ridge Golf Course in Marion.