Virgil Herring

Virgil Herring is a golf instructor, author, and motivational speaker recognized for his contributions to golf coaching and performance training in the United States. Herring received his degree in professional golf management and marketing from Mississippi State University and qualified as a golf professional. He began teaching college-level players at age 21 and has accumulated an extensive background in golf instruction, with more than 19 years of experience and over 32,000 lessons taught.

A five-time Middle Tennessee Chapter PGA Teacher of the Year and two-time Tennessee Section PGA Teacher of the Year, Herring has developed players at every level of the game. He has coached two PGA Tour winners, contributed to eight other professional victories, guided three players to the number one ranking in NCAA golf, and helped more than 200 players earn golf scholarships. Among his students is nine-time PGA Tour winner Brandt Snedeker. Herring served as Snedeker's golf instructor for eight years, during which time Snedeker advanced from an unranked junior to the number one player in college golf, the number one amateur in the world, a two-time Nationwide Tour winner, and PGA Tour Rookie of the Year. As a member of Future Champions Golf's inaugural class of Top 25 Master Coaches, Herring has taught more than 150 NCAA scholarship recipients.

Herring is one of the inaugural coaches in Golf Channel Academy, a dedicated network of teaching facilities, and has made multiple appearances as a guest instructor on Golf Channel's "Morning Drive." On one appearance, he analyzed Tiger Woods' swing changes, addressing the adjustments Woods made during his rise in the Official World Golf Ranking. Beyond television, Herring has hosted two podcasts — "On The Virg" and "Elevated" — and spent 17 years on radio with 104.5 The Zone.

As an author, Herring has published several works focused on golf performance and mental training. He is the author of "The Golf Journal: Improving Your Game," a statistical-based journal designed to help golfers identify areas for improvement and develop a game plan for success. He also co-authored "Elevated," a collection of chapters offering encouragement and insights based on experiences coaching and mentoring high-performing individuals and teams, alongside Drew Maddux. The duo followed that with "Excavated," sharing experiences from playing, coaching, and spectating to help readers overcome challenges and reach their potential.

With over two decades of experience coaching athletes and professionals, Herring is recognized in the golf industry for his blend of technical expertise, mental training, and motivational guidance. His career encompasses golf instruction, motivational speaking, and corporate coaching. As a TEDx speaker and keynote presenter, Herring demonstrates how the principles of championship golf — focus, resilience, and the pursuit of excellence — apply across industries.