WILMINGTON, N.C. - Amy Bambenek, who has 11 years of coaching experience on the NCAA Division I level, including three as an assistant at Florida State and the last eight as an assistant and associate head coach at George Washington, has been named to take over as head volleyball coach at UNC Wilmington.
Bambenek, 33, has played a key role in the development of the GW program in the nation's capital and was elevated to her current post in May of 2006.
“Amy is one of the rising stars in the volleyball coaching profession,” said Kelly Mehrtens, UNCW's athletic director. “We're thrilled to have her join the Seahawk family. She has a proven background as a successful recruiter, and brings a lot of enthusiasm, passion and drive to the position.”
Bambenek played four years for Coastal Carolina from 1995-98 and led Coastal to the Big South Conference championship and NCAA Tournament in 1996. A four-year starter at outside hitter and right-side hitter, she ranks fifth all-time in kills and total attacks, and third in aces for the Chanticleers.
The Chillicothe, Ohio, native began her coaching career at Florida State in 1998, and helped the Seminoles capture the 1998 Atlantic Coast Conference title and advance to the 1998 NCAA Tournament. She assisted with recruiting and coordinated team travel, game day operations, tournament scheduling and videotape exchange at FSU for three years as the Seminoles amassed a 54-45 record.
Bambenek moved on to GW as an assistant coach in 2001 and has assisted with all phases of Coach Jojit Coronel's program. She has served as the primary recruiting coordinator, assisted with daily practice plans, coordinated opponent and tournament scheduling, and managed fundraising efforts for the Colonials.
“I'm very excited about the position,” said Bambenek. “I was very impressed with the level of support from everyone at UNCW for the program. They want to make it successful and from the moment I stepped on campus, I felt that it was a program that could win and should win.
“I envision a quick start and a quick turnaround. I think we'll see some success next season. My hope is that we will move into the top half of the conference in the next three years on a consistent basis. We need to recruit the right players, and I'll use the national contacts I've made in the last 11 years to make that happen.
“I think we'll see some success next season and believe the current team has a lot of talent still to be proven.”
GW posted a 19-11 overall record and 9-4 mark in the Atlantic-10 Conference last fall, winning the A-10 East Division and earning the third seed in the 2008 A-10 Tournament. GW's freshman setter, Alyssa Valentine, was named A-10 Rookie-of-the-Year, marking Bambenek's second recruit to achieve the honor. Sophomore Leah Hill and senior Liz Moult earned Second-Team All-10 laurels and senior Maggie Wright was selected the A-10's Student-Athlete of the Year.
The Ohioan was inducted into the Chillicothe High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001 and has worked as the GW/Nike Camp director for the last three years. She is CAP (Certified Coaches Program) Level 1 certified through USA Volleyball, and has coached the Chesapeake Regional USA High Performance juniors team in a national event in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in the summer of 2007.
Bambenek earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Management from CCU in 1998 and completed her Master of Science Degree in Sport Administration from FSU in 2000.
