Nancy McDaniel Announces Retirement

BERKELEY – After spending the last 29 seasons as the founding head coach of the California women's golf program, Nancy McDaniel announced her retirement on Thursday.

Since the program debuted in 1995-96, McDaniel has helped turn it into one of the most nationally regarded programs. Under her leadership, Cal has consistently been ranked in the top 25 nationally, appearing in 10 NCAA Championships and 22 NCAA Regionals.

"It is with a grateful heart that I reflect on my time here at Cal," said McDaniel. "I have had the pleasure of coaching some of the most talented and brightest women athletes at a world class university. Together with our supporters, administrators, and players, we created a very special Cal women's golf family."

A Portland, Oregon, native and former star golfer at the University of Washington from 1984-88 where she was an All American and earned Pac-10 All-Decade Team honors, McDaniel has had a post-playing career defined by excellence and has been showered with numerous accolades.

After garnering back-to-back Pac-10 and West Regional Coach of the Year awards in 2001 and 2002, McDaniel led the Bears to a nation-best seven first-place tournament finishes in 2002-03, their highest-ever national ranking at No. 2, and their first of two Pac 10/12 championships. After winning the NCAA Central Regional in 2003, the Bears went on to have three straight top-five showings at the NCAA Championships from 2004-06, including a program-best fourth-place finish in 2004.

"I am forever thankful that Cal took a chance on me 29 years ago as it led to a dream career.  Having the ability to use golf, a sport that I absolutely love, as a vehicle in mentoring young women both competitively and personally has been profound," McDaniel said. "The joy comes from watching them step into greatness in all parts of their life and creating relationships with them that last a lifetime. I want to thank my associate head coach and dear friend Bev Terry for always handling our players with positivity, care and compassion, and for supporting me through these last eight years together."

McDaniel has taken in numerous coach honors, including the NGCA, LPGA Teaching and Club Professional, Golfweek, California's Athletic Alumni Association's Big C Society, LPGA Teaching Division Western Section and Golf World Midseason Coach of the Year awards. She was inducted into the WGCA Hall of Fame in 2016 in the later years of a 20-season consecutive run to NCAA Regionals. She has coached 17 All Americans, 31 NGCA/WGCA All-American Scholars, and 43 All-Pac 10/12 golfers.

In 2018, McDaniel 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.

"The impact Nancy has made on Cal and collegiate golf is immeasurable. She is truly a pioneer whose legacy will be felt for a long time," Cal Director of Athletics Jim Knowlton said. "Not only was Nancy a terrific golf coach, she was a role model to the countless women that came through our program for the past 29 years. We wish her all the best in her retirement."