Volleyball Names Tom Mendoza Assistant Coach
6/17/2010 4:15:00 PM | Volleyball
OMAHA, Neb. -- Creighton University volleyball head coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth has hired Tom Mendoza to be an assistant coach with the program. Mendoza replaces Paul Giesselmann on the Bluejay staff, after Giesselmann left to become head coach at Midland Lutheran College last month.
Mendoza spent last season at fellow Missouri Valley Conference rival Evansville, serving as an assistant coach to Mike Swan and working with the setters, outside hitters and primary passers. He also recruited for the Purple Aces program.
“The number one thing I look for when hiring is high character,” said Booth. “Tom is a high character person in addition to being a fantastic coach. He was an outstanding collegiate player and we look forward to him bringing in new training ideas to enhance our team. In addition, he was heavily involved with recruiting at Evansville and has connections in areas of the country where we'd like to make additional inroads.”
Mendoza, a native of Buffalo Grove, Illinois, came to UE after spending two seasons as the volunteer assistant at Michigan State. While at Michigan State, Mendoza and the Spartans appeared in the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2007. He also served on the Michigan State volleyball summer camp staff in 2007 and 2008 and was the director of Spartan Session volleyball camps and clinics.
A three-year letterwinner in volleyball at Newman University and a one-year letterwinner at Lewis University, Mendoza had an outstanding playing career. He was a 10-time Mid-America Men's Volleyball Intercollegiate Conference Setter of the Week and was a three-time all-conference selection. During his playing career, he was also named a NAIA All-American.
Mendoza served as the head coach of the Spartan Junior 16 Girls club team that finished first in the Michigan Power League. He was also the head coach for the Juggernaut Volleyball Club in Wheat Ridge, Colo., and the Sports Performance 15 Elite Boys that earned fifth place at the Junior Olympic Nationals.
Mendoza received his bachelor's degree in management information systems from Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill.
This fall Creighton will return four starters and 11-of-14 letterwinners from last year's team that tied for fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Mendoza spent last season at fellow Missouri Valley Conference rival Evansville, serving as an assistant coach to Mike Swan and working with the setters, outside hitters and primary passers. He also recruited for the Purple Aces program.
“The number one thing I look for when hiring is high character,” said Booth. “Tom is a high character person in addition to being a fantastic coach. He was an outstanding collegiate player and we look forward to him bringing in new training ideas to enhance our team. In addition, he was heavily involved with recruiting at Evansville and has connections in areas of the country where we'd like to make additional inroads.”
Mendoza, a native of Buffalo Grove, Illinois, came to UE after spending two seasons as the volunteer assistant at Michigan State. While at Michigan State, Mendoza and the Spartans appeared in the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2007. He also served on the Michigan State volleyball summer camp staff in 2007 and 2008 and was the director of Spartan Session volleyball camps and clinics.
A three-year letterwinner in volleyball at Newman University and a one-year letterwinner at Lewis University, Mendoza had an outstanding playing career. He was a 10-time Mid-America Men's Volleyball Intercollegiate Conference Setter of the Week and was a three-time all-conference selection. During his playing career, he was also named a NAIA All-American.
Mendoza served as the head coach of the Spartan Junior 16 Girls club team that finished first in the Michigan Power League. He was also the head coach for the Juggernaut Volleyball Club in Wheat Ridge, Colo., and the Sports Performance 15 Elite Boys that earned fifth place at the Junior Olympic Nationals.
Mendoza received his bachelor's degree in management information systems from Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill.
This fall Creighton will return four starters and 11-of-14 letterwinners from last year's team that tied for fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference.
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