Kristen Simpson

Biography

Kristen Simpson begins her third season at Penn State in 2025-26 after being named head women's golf coach on June 27, 2023. An LPGA Teaching Class A member and a TPI Golf 2 Certified Coach, Simpson descends on Happy Valley with more than 12 years of Division I coaching experience, including the past decade in Power 5. In 2024-25, Simpson mentored freshman Jiratchaya Jiratthitinun to a team-best 73.13 stroke average, the fourth-lowest in school history, and a trio of top-10 finishes. Penn State lowered its team scoring average by nearly a full stroke in Simpson’s second year at the helm finishing the season with a 296.34 (10-over) average. The Nittany Lions had their best finish relative to par at the Westbrook Invitational with a 7-under, 857), the best finish for Penn State in three years and the third-lowest 54-hole score relative to par all-time. PSU fired a 9-under, 279, during the final round marking the lowest round of the season and tied for the third-lowest 18 hole score relative to par all-time. Penn State also finished in red figures at the PDI Intercollegiate with a 3-under, 861, score tying for the seventh-lowest 54-hole score relative to par in team history. The Nittany Lions carded red figures in all three rounds of the tournament. Simpson, also saw senior Jami Morris be selected as the All State/NACDA Good Works Team Captain for the inaugural spring team. Morris has raised over $280k for cancer research over the past three years following her mother’s lymphoma