CEDAR CITY, Utah – Former Utah Valley University women's golfer Caylyn Ponich has been named the head coach of the Southern Utah University women's golf program, SUU Athletics announced.

Ponich, a 2024 UVU graduate, had a standout career at Utah Valley, competing in 36 events over four seasons. She played a key role in leading UVU to the team title at the 2024 Utah Tech Trailblazer Invitational, where she recorded a career-best eighth-place individual finish with a 9-over-par 225 (77-71-77). Her senior season was her best statistically, as she posted a career-low scoring average of 76.6 while playing in all 10 of UVU's tournaments. She also had five top-30 finishes, including a tie for 24th at the Timpanogos Collegiate Invitational with a three-round total of 215 (71-70-74).

Throughout her collegiate career, Ponich showed steady improvement, finishing the 2022-23 season with a 77.41 scoring average and notching a top-10 finish at the Zupas Trailblazer Invitational. She also had a solid junior season with a top-30 finish at the Hobble Creek Classic and placed 32nd at the 2023 WAC Golf Championship.

A Utah native, Ponich competed successfully at the high school and junior golf levels before continuing her career at Utah Valley University.

Ponich comes from a highly athletic family. Her father, Tom, played football at Utah State, while her mother, Becky, was a cheerleader at West Virginia. Her older brother, Cole Ponich, is currently a member of the BYU men's golf team and was crowned the 2024 Utah State Amateur Champion.

She and her fiancé, former UVU golfer Brady McKinlay (2020-23), plan to marry this summer. McKinlay, a native of Lacombe, Alberta, was one of UVU's most decorated golfers, earning multiple All-WAC honors and setting program records before turning his focus to a professional golf career.