Tuesday, November 20, 2001

University begins search for new volleyball coach
By Jill Sutton
Staff Reporter

The volleyball team is finding itself in a position where is does not want to be in mid-November.

Instead of competing in the NCAA Tournament, the program finds itself in the hunt for a new head coach.

A week after not renewing the contract of former head volleyball coach Sandy Troudt’s contract, TCU athletic officials said they are ready to step-up their search for a replacement.

Associate Athletics Director for Internal Operations Jack Hesselbrock, who is leading the search for TCU’s next volleyball coach, said the process of interviewing for new coaches will begin next week because many teams around the country, unlike TCU, are still competing in the NCAA Tournament.

“Timing is a big issue we have to consider right now,” Hesselbrock said. “Since the NCAA Tournament is still going on, it is difficult for us to begin a search for a new volleyball coach before every team is finished.”

Hesselbrock said TCU has no specific coach in mind, and the search is still “wide open.”

“We would like to find someone with head coaching experience at the collegiate level, but the only concern we have right now is finding the best possible coach that will fit our program,” Hesselbrock said.

Hesselbrock said, however, an assistant volleyball coach from this past season’s staff has shown interest in the job, and they encouraged her to apply for the position. He would not release the coach’s name.

“The assistant coaches as of now still have their jobs,” Hesselbrock said. “They will carry on the off-season duties until a new coach is hired.”

Hesselbrock said expectations for next season’s coach will be reasonable. The VolleyFrogs finished next to last in Conference USA with a 7-21 record ( 3-13 in C-USA).

“We will expect the new coach to help build the program,” Hesselbrock said. “We would hope to see a positive turnaround from this season and see them win much more than seven games again.”

Last week, Troudt said it was difficult for TCU to compete for top recruits because it played in the Rickel Building, a high school facility, while other top programs played in top-notch venues.

Hesselbrock also said that with the renovations of the Rickel, candidates should not doubt TCU’s devotion to the volleyball team.

“The new volleyball gym will be ready to use after next season,” Hesselbrock said.

“Anyone could see that this new gym will be a competitive arena to play in and help in the recruiting process as well.”

Hesselbrock said he wants to hire a new coach by summer of 2002.

“We want to have this finished before the summer in order to put stability in the upcoming team,” Hesselbrock said.

Jill Sutton
j.m.sutton@student.tcu.edu