RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women's golf program went through a handful of changes prior to the start of the 2025-26 season, but none may be bigger than the addition of associate head coach Puthita "Pang" Khuanrudee.
 
When Houston Moore was elevated to Director of Golf in April of 2025, he was looking for someone to help bring that championship culture to the women's golf program.
 
"We looked to find someone who had high character, is extremely competitive, and has a proven record of success," Moore said in a press release. "Coach Khuanrudee checks all of those boxes. She's a tremendous asset for us and I know she is going to do a great job of bringing a championship culture to our program."
 
Prior to arriving at UTRGV, Coach Pang spent two seasons at Lindsey Wilson College where she won back-to-back Mid-South Conference Assistant Coach of the Year honors after helping the men's team to an NAIA National Championship and guiding both men's and women's programs to Mid-South Conference Championships.
 
Coach Pang carried that excellence to UTRGV as they set a program single round record in the final round of the Lady Clerico, the first tournament of the season. Coach Pang helped the program to a second place finish at the Islander Collegiate Invitational, retain the South Texas Match Play trophy, and of course, win the program's first-ever Southland Conference Championship.
 
"In my eyes, I truly believe she is the face of UTRGV women's golf," Moore said. "Maybe I am behind the scenes helping her with stuff if she needs anything, but I really feel she has taken this thing by the horns and made it into her own. She has done an unbelievable job."
 
Coach Pang took it upon herself to help with the team's social media page and got creative with some of her posts, which helps tell more about the student-athletes. She has even become an expert in Canva helping with team graphics while keeping up with social media trends. 
 
Coach Pang's creativity is just not off the course. She keeps the Vaqueros on their toes on the course as well. 
 
"Coach Pang brings a lot of creativity when it comes to our practice schedules," junior Preston Saiz said. "We have done more drills that I had never done before. It has made our practices a lot more fun, a lot easier to put in more time."
 
The development of the Vaqueros with Coach Pang's creativity on the course has helped the Vaqueros lower their team scoring average yet again. They currently boast a 306 scoring average, which is down six strokes from a year ago and 10 from two years ago. 
 
Coach Pang's knowledge of the game comes from her experience as a golfer as well as she played five seasons at Youngstown State. She became the second player in program history to earn all-league honors four times. 
 
She was 2018-19 Horizon League Freshman of the Year and holds the Youngstown State program record for career scoring average, so coach Pang knows what it takes to get better. 
 
"She is very organized. Has tons of drills and practice plans," sophomore Pitchayapa Pungpho said. "It seems like every day there is a new drill. She used to play and used to be in our shoes once. She understands us very well, whether is about golf or class or life. I don't think I would be here at UTRGV without her."
 
Coach Pang has the knowledge and the vision but most importantly, she has done a good job of sharing that with the squad. Whether it's through her bubbly personality or her sense of humor, Coach Pang connects with everyone on the squad.
 
"I think she is a really good communicator," Moore said. "I think that the girls gravitate towards her. She has an infectious personality but also a good sense of humor. Those are important qualities as a golf coach. Her biggest quality as a coach is her player development and how she gets the team ready for the events."
 
To be a good communicator, one must be able to connect with their audience. Coach Pang has put in time and effort to get to know each one of her student-athletes. It may have taken some time, but that connection has paid off, which was evident throughout the spring and at the Southland Conference Championship.
 
It's not something that all people can do but the Vaqueros do appreciate that Coach Pang does it well.
 
"Coach Pang actually knows us very well," sophomore Zoe Hobbs said. "Even in the fall, we didn't know each other very well, but I feel like she sees us and she understands us each individually, which I feel is a big aspect. A lot of coaches can't do that, and I appreciate that she can do that."
 
Since arriving on campus almost a year ago, Coach Pang has trusted and believed in the process that she and Coach Moore have put in place and where the Vaqueros were going. 
 
As part of that communication, she showed that belief to each of the Vaqueros. When times got tough throughout the season, Coach Pang was there to reinforce the faith she had in all of them. 
 
"She has pushed us to believe in ourselves," junior Natalia Rodriguez said. "She tries to help us as much as she can confidence wise and helps us to trust in ourselves and our game."
 
There has been nothing but love for Coach Pang from up and down the Vaqueros roster. That's because Coach Pang loves what she does and loves the team. 
 
"Honestly, Coach Pang is the best coach I have ever had," sophomore Miriam Barcalova said. "She is extremely nice. Every time I've had a hard time, she lifts me up. She is our biggest supporter. She cares so much about this team and it's not so much about the scores but about our well-being. Coach Pang is just an amazing coach. I couldn't have wished for anything better and not in my wildest dreams did I think I would have such a great coach like her."
 
The Vaqueros have been blessed to have added Coach Pang to the staff. Together, they will go down in the history books of the program. 
 
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