Kelly DeFeo is entering her fifth season as the head women’s golf coach at Park University, leading the Pirates since the program’s first year in 2003-04.

In the program’s first season, DeFeo guided then-freshman Katie Johnson to an MCAC Individual Championship en route to being named the conference’s Player of the Year.

In 2004-05, she did the same for then-freshman Ashley Nicks, who also was named MCAC Player of the Year. As a team in 2004-05,

the Pirates took second place at the MCAC Championships. In 2005-06, Nicks and Johnson battled each other for the individual conference title, with Johnson prevailing after a playoff, marking the third straight year a Pirate was crowned Conference Player of the Year.

Last season, DeFeo’s Pirates were again MCAC Tournament champions and runners up in Region IV behind all-conference performances from Johnson and Nicks, earning DeFeo MCAC Coach of the Year honors. DeFeo also represents Park as the MCAC and Region IV chair for women’s golf, while also serving as a region and national rater for the NAIA.

In addition to her duties at Park, DeFeo, a Class A PGA member with the Midwest Section since 1995, currently is a seasonal

instructor at The National Golf Club of Kansas City. Her impressive work record also includes having been a teaching professional at the Robin Nigro Golf Academy in Kansas City, Mo., a teaching professional at the Eldorado Country Club in Indian Wells, Calif., an assistant professional at Tiffany Greens in Kansas City, Mo., and an assistant/head golf professional at Mission Hills Country Club in Mission Hills, Kan.

A contributing writer for Tee Times monthly magazine, DeFeo has assisted scoreboard operations at the Kansas City Champions Tour event for the last eight years. She also serves on the board of the Junior Golf Foundation of Greater Kansas City and The First Tee program.

DeFeo and her husband, Chuck, reside in Kansas City, Mo.