MerriLyn Gibbs is in her sixth year as the head coach of the California University women’s golf team. She led the Vulcans to three-straight Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship and five-consecutive appearances in the NCAA Regional Championships.
Last spring, Gibbs guided the Vulcans to their first-ever appearance in the NCAA National Championships. That same season, Cal U won the PSAC Championships by a dominating 48 strokes and finished third at the NCAA Super Region One Championship. The Vulcans have received rankings as high as No. 3 in the nation from GolfStat during the fall 2008 season.
Originally, Gibbs served as the director of the Vulcans men’s and women’s golf programs, which began varsity competition in 2005. The women's program was a new sport at Cal U, while the men's team was reinstated after being eliminated two decades earlier.
Gibbs previously served as the men’s and women’s golf coach at Dakota Wesleyan in Mitchell, S.D. While at Dakota Wesleyan, Gibbs guided the men’s and women’s teams to top-five finishes in six of seven tournaments in the 2004-05 season, including one tournament title for each team.
Gibbs, who graduated from BYU in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in American studies, has worked at three golf clubs in Idaho and Utah. She was the assistant pro and director of all teaching programs at Purple Sage Golf Course in Caldwell, Idaho. She was also the Idaho tournament director of the U.S. Kids National Championship.
She began her collegiate career at Boise State, where she was the medalist at two tournaments her freshman season. She was named the 1996 Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year while at Boise State. She then transferred to BYU and was a three-year member of the program.
Gibbs, who completed her master’s degree in sport management from Cal U, is a Class A PGA Professional. She was the 2000 Idaho Amateur Player of the Year and the Idaho State Match Play Champion in 1998 and 2000. She also won the Idaho Tournament of Champions title in 1998 and 2000 and was the bronze medalist in the 2000 Idaho State Stroke Play Tournament.
