WGOLF10/24/2024 2:34 PM | By: Cal Athletics

Founder Of Cal’s Women’s Golf Program Served As Team’s Head Coach For 29 Seasons Before Retiring In May

Nancy McDaniel, who founded California’s women’s golf program in 1995 and served as head coach for 29 years before retiring in May, passed away Wednesday after a long battle with breast cancer. She was 57.

“Nancy was a terrific golf coach, but that doesn’t even scratch the surface of the legacy she will leave as a person, wife, mother, friend, leader and role model,” Cal Director of Athletics Jim Knowlton said. “Nancy lit up every room she entered, and always put a smile on the faces of those around her. She also was an inspirational role model to the hundreds of young women who were fortunate enough to be coached by her at Cal. Our prayers go out to her husband, Jay, her immediate and extended family, and all of the many people she touched throughout her life. Nancy will be dearly missed.”

A star golfer at the University of Washington and originally from Portland, Oregon, McDaniel was hired by Cal to begin a women’s golf program and wasted no time turning it into a perennial national power. Under her leadership, the Golden Bears qualified for 23 NCAA regionals in her 29 years as head coach – including 10 trips to the NCAA Championships.

McDaniel earned numerous accolades during her coaching career, both for her teams’ performances on the links and for what she contributed to the sport overall. She was inducted into the WGCA Hall of Fame in 2016 and earlier this year was voted into the Cal Athletics Hall of Fame. She was also inducted into the NGCA Hall of Fame earlier this month.

“Our Cal community – student-athletes, fellow coaches, alumni and supporters – we are all so fortunate to have known Coach Nancy,” said current Cal head coach Sofie Aagaard, who played for McDaniel from 2004-06 and was an assistant coach on Cal’s staff for three seasons. “Her strength, courage, no-nonsense attitude, and love for coaching, along with her big heart, generosity and kindness, have had a positive impact on our lives. She will be greatly missed and leaves behind a legacy that we will proudly continue.”

McDaniel also twice received the Kim Moore Spirit Award for her great spirit and positive attitude within the game of golf and her success as a role model by demonstrating great mental toughness in the face of challenges.

McDaniel was twice named Pac-10 Coach of the Year and West Regional Coach of the Year and led Cal to a pair of conference championships. In 2003, she was named the LPGA Teaching and Club Professional Coach of the Year as well as Golfweek’s Coach of the Year. During McDaniel’s coaching tenure, the Bears had 31 NGCA or WGCA All-American Scholars.

After first being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, McDaniel also established the “Teach 4 The Cure” fundraiser – an annual clinic put on by Cal’s women’s golf program and other teams in the area in which all proceeds benefitted breast cancer research. She also used her voice and platform to promote the PlayForHer initiative each year at the Stanford Intercollegiate tournament – raising nearly $450,000 toward breast cancer research.

“Nancy dedicated her life to mentoring and coaching young women but her influence and impact expanded far beyond the boundaries of her team.” said Stanford head coach Anne Walker, who also played for McDaniel from 1998-2002 and served as her assistant coach from 2003-08. “She has left a lasting impression on all of Cal Athletics, the Bay Area golf community, college golf at large and every person she crossed paths with over her 57 years. The outpouring of love and support in her final days was a testament to the way she lived her life. She never failed to flash a smile, take time for a hello, send a thank you note, give thoughtful feedback or follow up with a message of encouragement. She loved fiercely, displayed first class sportsmanship and led Cal Women’s Golf with grace. Nancy is gone far too soon, and although her life was short, it was most certainly a life well-lived.”

Details and information about funeral services are forthcoming.