University of California, Santa Cruz

Coach Paulette Pera's main passion is golf. She has spent the last thirty-two years of her life perfecting her golf game and coaching others. As the UCSC Women's Golf Coach since 2003, her main objective is to give back to her community by utilizing her skills, talent, and experience in golf. She currently has a seat on the NCAA Board of Directors of the Women’s Golf Coaches Association representing Division III. 

When she started the UC Santa Cruz program in 2003, it was the first Women’s Division III Golf Program in the state of California. In her time coaching, the Women’s Golf Team has had 15 Academic All- Conference winners, 6 WGCA Academic All Americans, and has a 100% graduation rate. The team finished 14th in the nation in 2007 in their first-ever appearance at the NCAA Championships. She was named the Division III SkyCaddie NGCA West Region Coach of the Year in 2008-09. The 2021-22 team had their highest-ever finish at the American Southwest Conference Championship, placing second.

Pera played competitively at San Jose State, where she graduated with a B.S. in Business Marketing. Before coming to UCSC, she served as head women's golf coach at Scotts Valley High School and spent the last 14 years working with and mentoring youth around Santa Cruz County. She is married to Tom Pera, an All-American golfer and lives in Scotts Valley, CA.