TEMPE, Ariz.—Missy Farr-Kaye, a long time Sun Devil student-athlete and coach, was named the 10th head coach of the Arizona State women’s golf program, Vice President for University Athletics Ray Anderson announced Friday.
“The interest in the position of head coach for the women’s golf program was competitive and after evaluating all options, it was clear that Missy Farr-Kaye was undoubtedly the choice for the position,” said Anderson. “Missy’s track record of success, the support from the Phoenix golf community and former golfers, and her passion and enthusiasm for Sun Devil Athletics and our student-athletes all confirm that we have the top coach in the country right here at Arizona State.”
Farr-Kaye, arguably one of the most respected coaches in the country, spent the past 13 seasons as an assistant coach and then associate head coach of the Sun Devil women’s golf program with Melissa Luellen. Under the partnership of Farr-Kaye and Luellen, ASU won the school’s seventh NCAA Title in 2009, golfer Azahara Munoz took home an individual NCAA title in 2008, and the duo coached 14 student-athletes to a total of 24 All-American teams, and saw three players win Pac-12 Golfer of the Year.
“This is my dream job in every sense of the word,” said Farr-Kaye. “I grew up playing junior golf at Papago Golf Course. I graduated from Arizona State and won a NCAA Title under Linda Vollstedt. To become the head women’s golf coach of my alma mater is the pinnacle of my career and I have a personal, vested interest in the success of our program. Our goal is to continue to bring home the national title, year in, year out. Arizona State has championship expectations and I intend to deliver.”
Also committed to the academic success of ASU’s student-athletes, Farr-Kaye’s golfers have won the prestigious Edith Cummings Munson Award – the award for the top female golfer who is both an All-American and Academic All-American – with Azahara Munoz named the first two-time award winner in 2008-09. In addition to recording the top grade-point average of 3.65 within Sun Devil Athletics in 2015, women’s golf also leads the conference with four ASU golfers named Pac-12 Scholar Athlete of the Year – most recently awarded to Sun Devil All-American Noemi Jimenez in 2015.
During the 2008-09 season, Farr-Kaye, a two-time breast cancer survivor, battled a reoccurrence of breast cancer only to make it to the NCAA Championships and help ASU bring home its seventh NCAA Title. For her courage and strength, the Women’s Golf Coach Association awarded Farr-Kaye with the Kim Moore Spirit Award, the first and only coach to receive the honor typically reserved for student-athletes.
An accomplished golfer in her own right, Farr-Kaye was a member of the Sun Devil golf team under Hall of Fame head coach Linda Vollstedt and helped Arizona State bring home its first of seven NCAA Titles as a senior in 1990. Farr-Kaye graduated from Arizona State in 1990 with a degree in Organizational Communications.
Farr-Kaye, a Phoenix native, joined sister Heather Farr in the decision to attend school and play golf at Arizona State. Heather, a member of the Arizona Hall of Fame and the Sun Devil Hall of Fame, competed successfully as an LPGA golfer until she was diagnosed with and ultimately passed away from breast cancer at the age of 28. Farr-Kaye is an outspoken advocate for breast cancer awareness.
On Missy Farr-Kaye:
“I can’t think of anyone that would be a better fit for ASU right now than Missy Farr-Kaye. Missy she played golf here, was on a championship team, and won a championship as a coach. She has all the credentials needed to be a head coach, but the best asset Missy brings to the program is her passion for Arizona State and her drive for success. I’m really excited for our alumni to have such a great ambassador for ASU to lead our golf program.” - Former ASU Golf Coach Linda Vollstedt
“Missy Farr-Kaye has been prepared for this position for a long time now. I’m happy and proud to say this great Sun Devil is now officially our head women’s golf coach. I, along with our players and anyone who follows and loves ASU golf, will be happy to have a seamless transition in the coaching role so we can get back out to the course and start winning championships. Sometimes in sports, the things that should happen don’t. Ray Anderson saw clearly through this entire search that we had the best candidate for the job right here at ASU. I’m proud to work for a man that recognizes and retains great Sun Devil talent.” - Senior Associate Athletic Director Don Bocchi
Our #SunDevil Alumni are excited about the announcement! 2008 NCAA Champion Azahara Munoz sends her congratulations from the LPGA Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.
Posted by Sun Devil Women’s Golf on Friday, June 26, 2015
CONGRATULATIONS Coach Missy K for being named Head Coach at Arizona State University today! Happy for you!! #GoDevils pic.twitter.com/xndCnZICjJ
— Anna Nordqvist (@ANordqvist) June 26, 2015
ICYMI, this weekend's biggest college coaching news was Missy Farr-Kaye's hiring at Arizona State. Coaching blog: http://t.co/4zAGzIdcm2
— Golfweek.com (@collegegolf) June 29, 2015