Stepping into her first season as head coach of the Pahrump Valley High School (PVHS) girls’ golf team, Sierra McKillips is bringing energy, fresh ideas, and a strong commitment to building a positive experience for her players. With assistant coach Danielle Altiero by her side, Sierra is focused on creating a welcoming environment that encourages participation, fosters camaraderie, and reignites a love of golf for local high school girls.
Sierra’s connection to golf runs deep, beginning with her own experiences at PVHS, where she was an active member of the girls’ golf team during her high school years. A proud member of the Class of 2011, she not only competed on the team but also excelled, building a reputation for both skill and leadership. Her passion for the sport continued beyond high school as she pursued golf recreationally and stayed engaged with local programs. Sierra has often cited her high school experiences as formative, inspiring her to return to the community and give back by coaching the next generation of players.
Despite being relatively new to the head coach role and managing a small team, McKillips has already hit the ground running with creative fundraising efforts and ambitious plans to engage her players both on and off the course. This summer alone, the team organized two successful golf fundraisers: a Glow Ball tournament in June at Lakeview Golf Course that attracted 46 players, followed by a Scramble at Mountain Falls Golf Course in July. “We fundraised a good chunk of money for our team,” Sierra shared enthusiastically. Those funds will go toward team-building activities, including a planned trip to Topgolf early in the season, where the girls will enjoy games, food, and drinks together, blending fun and skill development.
But the vision doesn’t stop there. Sierra hopes to coordinate with a team in the Anaheim area for a friendly golf round, culminating in a memorable visit to Disneyland for her players at the end of the season. It’s a unique way to combine sport, travel, and lifelong memories—a strategy to keep the team motivated and excited about golf beyond competition.
Girls are still welcome to join the PVHS girls’ golf team this season, and Sierra encourages anyone who is even a little bit interested to come out and give it a try. Players can join at any point during the season, as long as they complete five practices before participating in a tournament. “Even if it’s their senior year and they’ve never tried a sport before, I would encourage them to come out and play,” she said. “It’s all about the experience, having fun, and growing with the team.”
Her goals for the season are clear and realistic: to encourage participation, foster fun, and rebuild enthusiasm for girls golf in the local high school community. McKillips recognizes the challenges facing the sport at the 3A level statewide. “We got to meet with the other 3A coaches, and they seem super welcoming. And I think all of them are in the same boat as us. Trying to get a good, solid girls golf team is really hard. The recruitment has been low in years past and all 3A schools are really struggling.” She hopes to reverse that trend by nurturing a renewed love of the game among young athletes.
Understanding the logistics of competition, Sierra explained the tournament structure under the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) rules, which allow coaches to set a cutoff score at the 9-hole mark during tournaments. For example, on an 18-hole course with a par of 72, she might set the cutoff at 55 strokes for the front nine. Players scoring below that can continue for the back nine, while others will “double out” their par and sit out the rest of the round. Sierra’s intention is to take the entire team to tournaments, allowing everyone to play until the cutoff point, then supporting those who remain on the sidelines. “We have two coaches, and even our pros here at Mountain Falls have offered to travel with us if needed,” she said. “It doesn’t feel overwhelming to have them hang out with us.”
Sierra’s efforts to build the program extend beyond high school. She remains actively involved in coaching at the middle school level, aiming to continue recruitment by inspiring younger girls to pick up golf. “I reached out to a number of girls from my past middle school team,” she said. While many have chosen other sports like soccer and volleyball, she respects their choices and appreciates their interest.
Through social media and direct contact, Sierra stays connected with players and community golf advocates like Tori Peers and David Wilson, leaders of the local junior golf program. Her own child participates in the Pahrump Junior Golf program as well, reinforcing her dual role as coach and parent deeply invested in nurturing the sport’s future..
Sierra hopes that these grassroots efforts will yield long-term success. “We might have a really great girls golf team in five or six years,” she predicted. “You’ve got to start somewhere.” The journey toward building a sustainable girls golf culture in Pahrump is underway, and Sierra’s passion and dedication are key ingredients.
The team’s home turf will play a pivotal role this fall when PVHS hosts its first girls golf tournament of the season on August 28th at Mountain Falls. This event also serves as the kickoff tournament for the 3A league.
With tee times starting at 11 a.m. for the home tournament, the PVHS girls’ team is poised to make its mark despite the modest size of the league and the challenges ahead. Sierra is confident her players’ middle school experience will give them a solid foundation. “Our girls have some experience, just limited when it comes to high school,” she explained.
As Sierra embarks on this new chapter, her excitement is evident. She embraces the challenges and is committed to providing a positive and inclusive environment where girls can learn, compete, and enjoy golf.
