Kelli Kamimura has come a long way since swinging a golf club for Sedro-Woolley High School.

Kamimura, a four-time state high school champion from 1995 to 1998, was named women’s golf coach at Washington State on July 14.

“It’s been a whirlwind,” said Kamimura, who has spent the past six years coaching at Pepperdine University in California. “It’s so exciting. I am really looking forward to getting back to the Northwest. And to be coaching at Washington State, a Pac-10 school, wow. It’s amazing how fast things can happen. I am thrilled to be a part of Cougar athletics.”

Kamimura takes over the Washington State women’s program from Walt Williams, who for the past 11 years coached the men’s and women’s teams. Williams will remain the men’s coach.

“It’s such a great opportunity,” said Kamimura. “And, personally, I love pressure.”

And she applied it almost immediately.

“My goal is to win a national championship,” she said.

Kamimura learned the game of golf early in life from her father Garrett. On those trips to the course, a fire was lit.

“My dad,” she said, “he always had a great attitude about the game of golf.”

In addition to her high school titles, Kamimura won two Washington Junior Golf Association titles, was a multiple first-team American Junior Golf Association All-America honoree and was a member of the Canon Cup team.

“I’ve always had a good coach,” said Kamimura, “starting with my dad and then with Rudy Franulovich.”

Franulovich, a retired Sedro-Woolley High business teacher and golf coach, saw a lot of potential in the 10-year-old Kamimura. A bond quickly formed between the two.

“What a great coach,” said Kamimura of Franulovich, who died in 1996. “He molded me and left a great impression. He really built my confidence in the game. It’s hard to believe he’s been gone for 13 years. Between he and my dad, they installed a great work ethic in me.”

Kamimura was an assistant women’s coach at Pepperdine from 2004 to 2006, then associate women’s coach from 2007 to 2009.

At Pepperdine, Kamimura helped the squad to six consecutive West Coast Conference Championships and four top-10 finishes at the NCAA tournament, including a third-place finish in 2006. The 2008 squad set an NCAA record for lowest three-round team score, shooting 41-under-par at the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown.

Now Kamimura looks to duplicate that success at Washington State.

“I always look forward to a challenge,” said Kamimura. “I am looking forward to developing players. More importantly, I want to develop these athletes as students and people. I haven’t even had a chance to meet the team yet. But I am very excited to get to Pullman.”

Kamimura, who played college golf at the University of Washington, had never been to Pullman before her job interview. When she was in college, the Cougars played their home matches in Moscow or Walla Walla.

“Everyone I met on my visit was great. Honestly, it seems a lot like the Skagit Valley. It felt very familiar. People are warm, friendly and welcoming. I am really looking forward to getting started.”

Kamimura’s squad will take to the manicured surfaces of the $12.3-million Palouse Ridge Golf Club, which opened on the WSU campus on Aug. 29, 2008.

“It’s gorgeous,” said Kamimura. “I mean, do you need a better reason to get out there and play golf? It’s a great recruiting tool. The first hole, you are aiming at the clock tower. Of course, winters can be a bit challenging.”

Before joining Pepperdine’s staff, Kamimura served as the assistant women’s golf coach at the University of Washington.

A four-year letterwinner and two-year team captain during her collegiate career, Kamimura was a National Golf Coaches Association All-America second-team selection as a junior in 2001 and was named honorable mention as a freshman in 1999. She received all-Pac-10 Conference recognition all four years. She was also a three-time honoree on the Pac-10 All-Academic Team (2000-02).

Kamimura led the Huskies to two NCAA tournament berths, and still holds the school record for most individual tournament victories (four).

“I have been very fortunate to be associated with three great golf programs,” said Kamimura. “I received my undergraduate degree (communications, 2003) at the University of Washington and my graduate degree (business administration, 2008) at Pepperdine. I had completely different experiences at Pepperdine, but each program excelled.”

It was never part of Kamimura’s master plan to get into coaching. But now she’s in it, and enjoying it.

“When I was in high school,” she said, “I really didn’t understand what coaching was all about. I was too busy competing. I really had no desire to be a professional golfer. But as time went on, coaching became a very good avenue.”

An avenue that has led to the greens and fairways of Palouse Ridge Golf Club and to Washington State University.

Vince Richardson can be reached at 360-416-2181 or by e-mail at .