Experiences are what gave Washington State women’s golf coach Kelli Kamimura’s the ambition to pursue a career as a coach.

A graduate from the University of Washington, Kamimura has much to appreciate from the Purple and Gold and the coaches that helped her evolve into the leader she is today.

 “I had a great college experience; my golf coach is one of my close friends, she really is family,” she said. “Just learning from her, and learning how the profession is like.”

As an athlete, she led the Huskies to five tournament victories and two NCAA Championship berths.

For Kamimura, being able to positively impact an athlete’s life and aid them in developing into a good person are key reasons she loves her job. When she’s not inspiring young athletes, she enjoys being part of the WSU community as she is a true Cougar at heart.

“Besides coaching I enjoy spending time with my family, working out, and reading and keeping up to date on current events,” Kamimura said. “I like to go to other Cougar events, that is what I spend most of my time doing.”

At the end of the day, coaching golf is what she enjoys the most, and what she does best. She said from a recruiting standpoint the players coming in are getting better and they work hard when they get here, too. As a coach, there are many moments that have truly made her career special.

“Our first team win was a very special moment. Emma Betland had a birdie at the last hole for our team to win and beat UW, and she stuck to like two feet and made the putt,” she said.

Knowing all of the hard work is paying off for the team is what makes most moments special for Kamimura. However, even though the game allows for many rewards, she has also faced situations that try her as coach and mentor.

“I think the most difficult situation as a coach is when you have a talented player, and you know they might have some things that are getting in their way and keeps them from performing to the best of their abilities and their struggling to get past that, you want to go in there and help them make the shot,” she said.

Ultimately she enjoys the spirit and the atmosphere of WSU and the quality of the facilities the university has to offer. She hopes to better the team in any way she can, which includes competing for championship titles.

“I want to have every player come into the program and leave here growing as a person and growing as a golfer and showing improvements, so that they know that when they came here they made the most of their opportunity,” Kamimura said.