MALIBU, Calif. – After already one of the most successful seasons in program history and with only the NCAA Championships left, Pepperdine women's golf head coach Laurie Gibbs has been named to the Jackie Steinmann Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) National Coach of the Year Watch List, as the organization announced today.
 
Gibbs has led the Waves to six tournament wins this season, the most in a single season in program history, including a share of the NCAA San Antonio Regional title and a league-best 20^th West Coast Conference Championship crown.  Pepperdine had previously won five tournaments in a single season during the 2002-03 campaign – the same year the Waves posted their best-ever finish with a NCAA Runner-Up end to the season.
 
She was named WCC Coach of the Year for the 15^th time in her career, while coaching a league-best five Waves to spots on the All-WCC first team, as well as Lion Higo to a WCC Player of the Year honor.  The Waves have impressed with a 288.0 scoring average so far this season, which currently leads the all-time record books.  The previous highest was a 292.50 during the 2013-14 season.
 
At the Regional, the Waves tied the program's best-ever finish at an NCAA Regional event, tying for first alongside SMU, a feat that had been accomplished last during the 2001-02 season.  At the WCC Championships, the Waves took home the top three spots, led by medalist Kaleiya Romero who shot a 7-under.  Her title was the fourth-consecutive tournament win by the Waves. 
 
In addition to the two-postseason tournament victories this season, the Waves have won the Silicon Valley Showcase and Anuenue Spring Break Classic in the Spring and the Golfweek Red Sky Classic and Golf Iconic Classic in the Fall. 
 
No Pepperdine coach in program history has ever garnered the WGCA National Coach of the Year honor yet, though Katherine Hull had earned WGCA National Player of the Year acclaim in 2003.
 
Pepperdine will compete in the NCAA Championships at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona from May 19-24.
 
WGCA National Coach of the Year Watch List
Kalen Anderson, South Carolina
Amy Bond, Florida State University
Gerrod Chadwell, Texas A&M University
Dana Dormann, San Jose State University
Charlie Ewing, Mississippi State University
Emily Fletcher, Northwestern University
Laurie Gibbs, Pepperdine University
Jay Goble, Baylor University
Caroline Haase-Hegg, Augusta University
Kory Henkes, University of Mississippi
Kelley Hester, Clemson University
Laura Ianello, University of Arizona
Kim Lewellen, Wake Forest University
Lauren Mason, Southern Methodist University
Ryan Murphy, University of Texas
Angie Ravaioli-Larkin, Texas Christian University
Garrett Runion, Louisiana State University
Ria Scott, University of Virginia
Dawn Shockley, Oregon State University
Justin Silverstein, University of Southern California
Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll, Michigan State University
Jill Trujillo, University of New Mexico
Anne Walker, Stanford University
Annie Young, University of Tulsa
 
For the most up-to-date information, follow the Waves on Twitter, @WavesGolf, or Instagram, @pepperdinewomensgolf.