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USF head coach Sara Range enters her eighth season at the helm of the women's golf program at the University of San Francisco. Under her direction, the Dons continue to flourish on the golf course and in the classroom. USF qualified for their school record fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA Regionals in 2004 and captured a pair of tournament victories during a highly successful season en route to a top-40 national ranking. The four straight postseason appearances eclipsed the USF women's athletics record for consecutive NCAA trips held by women's basketball (1995-97). Under her guidance, the Dons have re-written the record books and continue to elevate the quality and consistency of women's golf on the Hilltop.
San Francisco's fourth straight postseason berth continued a trend of strong play. During the Dons NCAA run, USF has captured four tournament victories and nine runner-up showings. Range directed USF to the 2001 West Coast Conference Championship as her team secured an upset win of three-time defending champion Pepperdine, then ranked ninth nationally. In addition, the Dons captured another tournament title and two golfers won individual medallist honors. For her efforts during the 2000-2001 season, Range was selected as WCC Coach of the Year by her peers.
During her tenure on the Hilltop, Range has coached 14 All-WCC performers and an NCAA Regional Qualifier (2000). USF women's golfers turn in strong performances in the classroom with eight All-WCC academic team selections and a pair of Academic All-Americans. Now in her eighth season on the Hilltop, Range is fourth in head coaching tenure in the Green and Gold.
"Last year was exciting for our program and I am pleased with what we were able to accomplish. Now we must take the next step and qualify for the NCAA Nationals as a team," Range said. "I am excited about the experience returning and the potential of our yong golfers of this team. They have all played at a very competitive level and I'm confident we will reach our team goals."
Prior to her arrival at USF, Range spent a pair of seasons as an assistant coach at Oregon State, after playing golf for the Beavers from 1991-95. While competing and coaching at OSU, Range was a part of the Far West Regional qualifying teams during four straight seasons, twice as a player (1994-95) and twice as a coach (1996-97). Range was among the Top 25 finishers at the Pac-10 Tournament for three straight seasons and was selected to represent the Pac-10 on a women's golf all-star squad that toured Asia. She earned team MVP honors at OSU during the 1994-95 campaign and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Zoology (1996).
Range served a three-year stint on the NCAA West Regional selection committee and is also pursuing a Master's Degree in Counseling and Psychology at USF.
Range was born and raised in Federal Way, Washington. Sara and her husband Jeff live in The City. The couple gave birth to their first child, Emma Rose, in April of 2002.
