STANFORD, Calif. — The national champion Stanford women's golf program is adding to its coaching staff. Margot and Mitch Milias Director of Women's Golf Anne Walker welcomed on Monday the addition of Demi Runas as an assistant coach at Stanford.
Arguably the best golfer in the history of UC Davis, Runas spent the last two seasons leading the Aggies women's golf program. Her impact in her return was felt immediately, vaulting UC Davis up the national rankings by nearly 100 spots. This past season, the Aggies finished fourth in the Big West and had four players named to the All-Big West team, which is tied for the most they've had in a single season since 2015.
UC Davis won the Coeur d'Alene Resort Collegiate Invitational in September, the program's first win since 2021. Runas also coached an individual champion in 2023 when Abby Leighton won the Causeway Invitational.
"Demi is a great addition to our staff and brings some tremendous professional golf experience," mentioned Walker. "Her time on the LPGA and Epson Tours will benefit our players and add another dimension to the mentoring we provide our team."
Runas went from having success at the collegiate level to the professional level immediately. She won her first professional title on the Cactus Tour in the summer of 2013, months after her graduation. She became the first former UC Davis golfer to earn her LPGA tour card when she did so in 2014, and eventually played eight seasons on the LPGA and Epson Tours prior to taking over the UC Davis program as its head coach.
Recruited to UC Davis by Walker, Runas is the Aggies career leader in scoring average, top-five finishes, and top-10 finishes. She helped lead UC Davis to the NCAA postseason in all four of her years, including two appearances in the NCAA Championship final site in 2011 and 2013.
"I am excited to be joining the Cardinal family! Anne made a tremendous impact on me when I was her player, so the opportunity to coach alongside her and learn from her again is truly a full circle moment for me," said Runas. "I look forward to working with both Anne and Brooke to continue building on the program's success."
The 2013 individual champion of the Big West and three-time Big West Player of the Year, Runas was inducted into the UC Davis Athletics Hall of Fame in 2020. A native of Torrance, Runas graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications from UC Davis in 2013.
Runas joins a Stanford team that is coming off its third-ever national championship, and second in the last three seasons. Five Stanford golfers were named All-Americans by both the WGCA and Golfweek. While the past has been great, the future looks even brighter, as the Cardinal boasts the top-ranked incoming recruiting class in the nation, per Golf Channel.