Kaylee Shimizu is appointed as the new head coach of the Portland State women's golf program, bringing a strong background in golf and coaching. A former Division I golfer at Utah Valley, she served as a volunteer assistant coach for the Vikings and has experience in various professional roles, including in Information Technology. Athletic director Matt Billings expressed confidence in her ability to lead the program after its notable performance last season, where the team secured a fourth-place finish at the Big Sky tournament and achieved a scoring average of 301.8, the best since 2017-18. Shimizu aims to foster an environment that promotes academic and athletic excellence among the players.

By the Numbers
  • The Vikings finished fourth at the Big Sky tournament, their best result in five seasons.
  • Last season, the team recorded a scoring average of 301.8, the best since 2017-18's record of 296.5.
State of Play
  • Shimizu starts her coaching tenure with a solid roster, returning five players from last season.
  • The Vikings will open their fall season at Utah Valley, her alma mater, on Sept. 14-15.
What's Next

The Vikings are set for a challenging fall schedule, including tournaments at the Kalispel Invitational, Sun Mountain Intercollegiate, and Pat Lesser Harbottle Invitational, allowing Shimizu to showcase her coaching abilities early on.

Bottom Line

Shimizu's appointment is seen as a strategic move to build on the momentum of recent successes, emphasizing both athletic performance and personal development for the student-athletes.