HOUSTON Genny Volpe, formerly an assistant coach at Texas A&M University, has been named the new head volleyball coach at Rice University, athletic director Bobby May announced Wednesday.
Volpe has spent the past three seasons at Texas A&M, where the Aggies were 70-26 and appeared in the NCAA tournament each season. Texas A&M finished the 2003 season ranked 16th in the final AVCA poll and advanced to the NCAA regional semifinals where it lost to eventual national champion Southern California.
Were extremely excited about Genny joining the Rice family, May said. She brings expertise and energy to the court, and Im confident shell lead our volleyball program to new levels in our final season in the Western Athletic Conference and into Conference USA.
Prior to her stint with the Aggies, Volpe spent five years as an assistant coach at Southern Methodist. After posting a 7-24 record in their inaugural season, the Mustangs went 15-19 in 1997, winning their quadrant in the WAC and qualifying for the WAC tournament. She helped SMU achieve its first 20-win season in 2000.
Volpe is no stranger to Rice, as she spent the 1995 season as an assistant coach for the Owls under Henry Chen. She helped direct Rice to its first postseason bid as the Owls were selected to play in the NIVC tournament.
Im just really excited to be back at Rice, Volpe said. This program has the potential to be a consistent force in the conference and NCAA, and one of my goals is to bring us to the level of national recognition that Rice volleyball deserves. Im also looking forward to the opportunity to recruit to an outstanding academic university.
Volpe played collegiate volleyball at Texas A&M where she was a four-year letterwinner as setter and outside hitter. She holds the Aggie record for most matches and games played, and ranks third in digs, sixth in both assists and aces.
A native of San Antonio, Volpe received her bachelors degree in kinesiology from Texas A&M in 1995 and a masters degree in liberal arts from SMU in 1999. She and her husband, John, have a son John Joseph, and live in Cypress.
Volpe replaces Jonathan Wilson at the Rice helm. Wilson resigned in December to pursue other interests.
Rice finished the 2003 season with a 19-10 overall record. The Owls were led by Rebeca Pazo and Rebecca Kainz, all-WAC players who are among eight letterwinners returning for the 2004 season.