La Verne, CA – The University of La Verne announces the hiring of Nathalie da Silva as the Director of Golf Operations, Head Men's Golf Coach.
"After a Nationwide search, we are thrilled to name Nathalie da Silva as the new Director of Golf Operations, Head Men's Golf Coach," said Athletics Director Dr. Jenna Panatier. "Coach da Silva's global experience and successes makes her an exceptional choice to lead our Nationally recognized men's golf program. We are excited for the future of our program."
Da Silva brings with her a plethora of golf experience, and her accolades traverse the collegiate and professional levels. Additionally, she embraces the importance of developing a complete program, and building team culture into all aspects.
"Team culture was a huge part of my development as a collegiate player," said Coach da Silva. "As a coach, I truly believe that implementing a strong team culture will help each player to understand their valuable role within the team, as it improves their sense of belonging. When team members share the same values and beliefs, they are more likely to hold each other accountable when pursuing the same goals. I want the members of the ULV golf team to feel that they are part of a big family, and that they have each other's back."
At California Baptist University (CBU), da Silva found success as both an individual and as an overall team competitor. She was a 2009 and 2010 NAIA all-American, the 2010 NAIA Individual National Champion, participated on the NAIA National Championship team in 2011, and earned All-PacWest honors in 2014 when she took fifth place individually at the conference championships. Ranking in the Lancers' all-time top-10 for rounds played (78), scores counted (75), scoring average (77.24) and par-or-better rounds (eight), da Silva culminated her collegiate playing success in 2019 when she was inducted into the CBU Hall of Fame.
As a competing member of the Brazilian international golf program, da Silva won the 2012 Brazilian Amateur Open. From 2008 to 2014, she represented Brazil in various tournaments across the globe, competing in Chile, China, Colombia, Copa Los Andes Uruguay, Paraguay, Peru, and Turkey.
Prior to La Verne, da Silva returned to the United States in the fall of 2015 as the assistant coach at CBU, working in tandem as a golf professional at Victoria Club in Riverside, Calif.
Da Silva earned her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from CBU in 2013, and her Master of Science (CBU) in Kinesiology in 2015.