Nancy Kessler McDaniel (November 11, 1966 – October 23, 2024) was the founding coach for the University of California's women's golf program. McDaniel coached the Cal Golden Bears women's golf team for 29 seasons, where they made 23 NCAA regional appearances. Under her tenure, the team would head to the NCAA Championships 10 times.[1]
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 11, 1966 Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Died | October 23, 2024 (aged 57) |
| Alma mater | University of Washington |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 29 | University of California Golden Bears |
| Head coaching record | |
| Tournaments | 7 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 1 | |
| Awards | |
| Pac-12 Coach of the Year (2x), Women's Golf Coaches Association Hall of Fame (2016), Cal Athletics Hall of Fame (2024) | |
Background
editMcDaniel was born in Portland, Oregon on November 11, 1966. She first began playing golf at age eight at Waverley Country Club.[2]
She played college golf at the University of Washington. In 1988, McDaniel served as team captain during her senior year at University of Washington, where she earned All-American and Pac-10 All-Decade Team honors.[2][3]
In 1995, McDaniel started the women's golf program at the University of California.[1]
While coaching at Cal, she was named Pac-10 Coach of the Year twice, in 2001 and 2002.[2] In 2002, the Golden Bears were ranked 2 nationally, their highest ranking. In 2003, she was named the LPGA Teaching and Club Professional Coach of the Year and also was named Golfweek's Coach of the Year.[1] In 2004, one of her players, Sarah Huarte won the individual national title.[4] Another of McDaniel's standout players, Anne Walker, would go on to coach the Stanford Women's golf team.[4]
In 2016 she was named to the Women's Golf Coaches Association Hall of Fame and in 2024 she was inducted in the Cal Athletics Hall of Fame, as well as the National Golf Coaches Association Hall of Fame.[5] McDaniel coached 17 All American players, and 43 All-Pac 10/12 players during her time as a coach.[2]
McDaniel was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. After her diagnosis, she became active in breast cancer advocacy, teaching clinics to benefit breast cancer research. She went into remission two years after her initial diagnosis, but the cancer returned in 2023.[6] She also lent her name to Stanford's PlayForHer initiative, responsible for raising nearly $450,000 for breast cancer research.[5] McDaniel retired from coaching duties at Cal in May 2024. She died of complications of breast cancer on October 23, 2024, at age 57.[3]
Shortly before her death, McDaniel was inducted into the Northern California Golf Association's Hall of Fame.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Long-Time Cal Golf Coach Nancy McDaniel Dies". Sports Illustrated. October 25, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Longtime Cal women's golf coach Nancy McDaniel has died". Golfweek. October 24, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
- ^ a b Kroichick, Ron (October 24, 2024). "Longtime Cal women's golf coach Nancy McDaniel dies at 57". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
- ^ a b Kroner, Steve (April 19, 2024). "Nancy McDaniel, founder and coach of Cal women's golf program, retires". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
- ^ a b "Nancy McDaniel Passes Away". California Golden Bears Athletics. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
- ^ Kroichick, Ron (October 18, 2023). "'A total badass': Stanford campaign honors Cal golf coach fighting cancer". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved December 5, 2024.