Who is Notre Dame’s Asian Kicker Justin Yoon? All we know about Fighting Irish’s player

From a soccer-loving kid to Notre Dame’s all-time leading scorer, Justin Yoon’s journey is nothing short of remarkable. Born in Cincinnati in 1995 to Korean parents, Yoon spent his early years in Korea before moving back to the U.S. with his family in 2004, settling in Nashville, Tennessee.

While football wasn’t his first love, a coach at Harding Academy noticed his talent when Yoon was kicking a soccer ball. By eighth grade, Yoon had made the switch to placekicking, and his skills only grew from there. Under the guidance of Jamie Kohl, a former Iowa State kicker, Yoon sharpened his craft and caught the eye of several top programs.

Offers came in from Stanford, Northwestern, and many Ivy League schools, but Yoon ultimately committed to Notre Dame before his senior year in high school.

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Who is Notre Dame’s Asian Kicker Justin Yoon?

Notre Dame Fighting Irish place kicker Yoon (Credits: IMAGN)

At Milton Academy in Massachusetts, Justin Yoon’s talent was undeniable. In one game during his junior year, 2013, he nailed four field goals ranging from 37 to 54 yards, and his kickoffs were so powerful that none were returned. By his senior year, ESPN ranked him the No. 2 high school kicker in the nation.

Yoon’s time at Notre Dame was historic. In 2018, during a 45-23 win over Virginia Tech, he became the school’s all-time leading scorer with 367 career points. Fans embraced him with the chant "YOOOON" echoing through the stadium every time he took the field.

Though he went undrafted in 2019, he did try out for the Chicago Bears but wasn’t signed.

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Justin Yoon’s initial passion

Notre Dame Fighting Irish place kicker Yoon (Credits: IMAGN)

Despite his football success, Justin Yoon’s passion was initially for hockey—his No. 19 jersey for Notre Dame was a tribute to Steve Yzerman, the Detroit Red Wings legend.

But by his sophomore year in college, it was clear his path lay on the football field, where he made his mark as one of the top kickers in the nation. Yoon’s journey has led him to kick under the bright lights of Notre Dame.

Yoon’s father, Jiseop, an Olympic figure skater, and his mother, a pharmacist, supported him every step of the way.