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| Kritza Adds Campbell To Staff Release: 03/22/2013 Courtesy: CUBuffs.com | ||||||
| BOULDER — University of Colorado volleyball coach Liz Kritza has announced the hiring of Kevin Maureen Campbell as an assistant to her staff. “Kevin approaches coaching with great enthusiasm, professionalism, and genuine concern for the success of the student-athletes under her tutelage,” Kritza said. “We are excited to add her wealth of experience on the recruiting trail, in the training gym, and on the bench. She is a proven commodity as evidenced by her ability to recruit top-level players in the nation. Her ability to work diligently in an intense and motivated training environment is an essential attribute as we continue to build this program in the Pac-12, home to the nation’s top volleyball programs.” “I am honored to be a part of Coach Kritza's staff at this beautiful, prestigious university,” Campbell said. “It is an exciting time for CU Volleyball. I'm thrilled to invest my skills and experience towards the program’s current steady climb in the Pac-12. This is an exceptional athletic department and Coach Kritza has created a volleyball culture that ensures the student-athletes a fantastic experience. I look forward to learning and growing in this environment.” Campbell has an extensive volleyball background and joins the Buffaloes after a head coaching stint at North Florida (2007-2011). She guided the Ospreys to their first and second appearances in the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament in 2010 and 2011. The 2011 team finished the season with a 14-17 record, improving from just four wins in 2007. Campbell coached a pair of All-A-Sun players, three All-A-Sun Freshmen and the 2009 A-Sun Freshman of the Year, Paige Pridgeon. In her first season at UNF, she saw Maegan Weisert close out her career with the team and become just the second player to record 1,000 career kills and digs. Sand volleyball has been an emerging sport for women and Campbell played a big role in bringing the sport to UNF, debuting for the 2012 season with 12 other schools. She was tasked with the responsibility to raise the entire operating budget for the program and recruited sand players for the season. Additionally, in pursuit of her postgraduate degree, Campbell has done extensive work in the marketing of sand volleyball and a comparative analysis of volleyball program operations around the country. Campbell has been an assistant at Georgia, UNC Charlotte, Ohio University and Winthrop, but most notably perennial powerhouse Penn State for two seasons (2005 and 2006). The Nittany Lions won their fourth straight Big Ten title in 2006 and advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament, finishing the season with a 32-3 record. Three Penn State players earned AVCA All-America honors and the team finished with a No. 5 ranking. During the 2005 season, Penn State advanced to the NCAA Region Semifinals and recorded a 31-3 record. “Kevin’s experience deep into postseason play with a national championship program is key for the future,” Kritza said. “We have some exciting young players in our program that will benefit greatly from her experience as they continue to develop here at Colorado.” Campbell served as the recruiting coordinator and oversaw match preparation and opponent scouting at Penn State. One of the most notable players Campbell recruited while at Penn State was 2012 Olympian Megan Hodge, who also earned AVCA Player of the Year honors in 2009. During her time at Penn State, she was an assistant to one of the most respected head coaches, Russ Rose. Rose has been a head coach for 34 seasons and is just the third active Division I head coach to reach 1,000 career wins. His team won four straight NCAA titles from 2008-11 and has made 32 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. “I think Kevin will make a great addition to the Colorado staff,” Rose said. “She is a dedicated and loyal worker and I think her experience will help in all aspects of the program.” She also spent time coaching at the club level as well between 1992 and 2011. Campbell was the club director and founder of Charlotte Elite Volleyball Club (2003-05). She was completely responsible for tournament scheduling, handling the budget, negotiating equipment contracts, ordering equipment, securing facilities, hiring and mentoring coaches and much more. The program had 100 percent college placement for its participants during her time with the club. Campbell served as a coach, instructor and recruiting specialist for Bring It USA between 2002-06. In 2003, she toured Germany, Austria, Slovenia and the Czech Republic with a team of recent college graduates who were looking to play professionally in Europe. The group toured Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in 2006. Not just a volleyball coach, Campbell also spent time as an assistant compliance officer at Winthrop University (1998-99). She assisted the SWA in advising student-athletes and coaches regarding NCAA rules and coordinated and advised the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) and events associated with SAAC. The Omaha, Neb., native played volleyball collegiately at the University of Nebraska-Omaha from 1991-94. While at UNO, Campbell recorded more than 1,000 career kills, earned All-North Central Conference honors (1992, ’94), was an AVCA All-North Central Region team member and the Mavericks’ team captain in 1994. She also garnered All-NCC Academic honors. Campbell graduated Cum Laude in 1995 from UNO with a bachelor’s degree in history. She earned her masters of educational leadership in athletic administration from UNF in 2012. Campbell also attended Nebraska’s School of Law in Lincoln. “Beyond her past success and years of experience, people will truly enjoy working with her as she is a highly intelligent, capable, and energetic coach,” Kritza said. “She will work tirelessly to ensure our players become exceptional people, students and volleyball players. We happily welcome Kevin to our family.” |
