Head Coach Suzie Fritz
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Coaching Career:
- Florida Atlantic University: assistant coach, 1994
- Barton County Community College: assistant
coach, 1995-96
- Kansas State University: assistant coach, 1997-2000
- Kansas State University: head coach, 2001-present
- A2 USA National Team; Head Coach 2009, Assistant Coach 2006
Athletic & Academic Honors Under Fritz
- 6 All-Americans
- 12 All-District Selections
- 26 All-Big 12 Conference Selections
- 25 Big 12 Conference Players of the Week
- 9 AVCA Team Academic Awards
- 16 Academic All-District Selections
- 71 Academic All-Big 12 Conference Selections
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Contact Coach Fritz
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After 11 seasons at the helm of the Kansas State volleyball program, Suzie Fritz has established herself as not only one of the most successful coaches in K-State history, but also the nation. Fritz has led the Wildcats to eight NCAA Tournament appearances as head coach, 12 dating back to her days as an assistant coach, the school's first-ever conference title in 2003 and three Sweet 16 appearances. She is the winningest coach in the program's history with a record of 217-127 (.631) In 15 seasons total on staff, Fritz has seen 10 All-Americans, 17 All-Region performers and 38 all-conference players come play as Wildcats. Since taking over the program, Fritz has taken the Wildcats to new heights.
She has no doubt earned the respect of her peers and established herself as one of the leaders in her field.
"Suzie is one of the great coaches in our country," said Carl McGown of GoldMedalSquared.com. "What she has accomplished at K-State is remarkable, but not surprising when you know how talented and devoted she is. She understands how to teach, she is creative and she is great with her team."
In just her first year at the helm, Fritz led the Wildcats to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and a 20-8 record. It was the highest winning percentage in school history by a first-year coach at .714. That season Liz Wegner became the first player in Kansas State history to be named to an All-American team twice in her career, as she was named an honorable mention All-American by Volleyball Magazine. Wegner joined fellow senior Lisa Mimick on the 2001 All-Big 12 first team.
Fritz also served as a keynote speaker at the AVCA National Convention in 2008 presenting on various aspects of the game. Following the 2005 season, Fritz was appointed to the 2006 USA Women's National Volleyball A2 Team.
Fritz was again selected to the staff for the A2 program in 2009, this time as a head coach and took the team to a third-place finish at the USA Adult Open Volleyball Championship. Her coaching and national reputation as an ambassador for the game has garnered praise from the USA Women's National Team coach Hugh McCutcheon as well.
"Suzie is a wonderful coach," McCutcheon said. "She knows the game and she knows how to teach it."
Fritz coached her fifth All-American as a head coach when Nataly Korobkova received third team honors from AVCA in 2007 and 2008. Korobkova stormed onto the scene with 498 kills in her first year as a Wildcat. She earned Big 12 Newcomer of the Year to go with her first team All-Big 12 selection and was named first team AVCA All- Region VI. She repeated her achievement as a third team All-America selection again in 2008 to become the school's second two-time All-American.
In 2011, Kaitlynn Pelger earned AVCA All-America honorable mention and was named to the Volleyball Magazine All-America third team, to become the 10th All-American in program history and sixth with Fritz leading the program.
The Wildcats have averaged a fourth-place finish in the powerful Big 12 Conference under Fritz, but in the off-year of 2006 finished 10th. Not counting that season, the Wildcats are one of the top three programs in the conference over that time span.
Success for the Wildcats has come more than just on the court under Fritz as she and her players have taken the term student-athlete to heart. The Wildcats have established themselves as one of the top performing teams in the classroom in the nation. In 2008, K-State led the conference in first team Academic All-Big 12 honorees for the fourth consecutive year. The team also earned its seventh straight AVCA Team Academic Award in 2007 to receive the recognition each year under Fritz. The award is given to teams maintaining a cumulative 3.30 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale. It was one of the longest streaks in the nation for receiving the prestigious academic award. The Wildcats earned the honor again in 2010.
K-State has tallied 71 Academic All-Big 12 selections, 14 Academic All-District student-athletes and 4 Academic All-Americans during Fritz's hed coaching tenure to go with the nine AVCA Team Academic Awards. Along with the academic awards and 10 All-American performances on the court, 8 different players have been selected for a total of 12 All-District/Region honors with her at the helm. K-State has also claimed four Big 12 Libero of the Year honors, two Big 12 Newcomer of the Year awards and one Big 12 Player of the Year under Fritz, as well as 26 All-Big 12 nods and 25 Big 12 players of the week.
Fritz began her head coaching career at K-State as the interim head coach after Jim McLaughlin left the program shortly before the start of the 2001 season. After a 9-5 start her first year, Fritz was named the program's permanent head coach. She took the reigns from McLaughlin after serving as his top assistant four years.
 Full Coach Suzie Fritz Bio
Assistant Coach Jeff Grove
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Contact Coach Grove
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Jeff Grove has been with the Wildcats for the last 10 years as an assistant coach under Suzie Fritz after returning to the program in 2002. He helped orchestrate the rise of the Wildcat program as an assistant along side of Fritz from 1997-99 and has continued to play a big role in its success.
Over the last 10 seasons, Grove has helped lead the Wildcats to a 197-119 overall record and a Big 12 title in 2003. He also coached two-time Big 12 Conference Liberos of the Year Laura Downey-Wallace and Angie Lastra as well as First Team All-Big 12 and AVCA All-American Lauren Goehring.
Since Grove's return, the Wildcats have remained one of the top programs in the competitive Big 12 Conference and reached the NCAA Tournament seven times. He serves as the team's top assistant coach and helps in the development of all phases of the program with specific duties as defensive coordinator. During his time as defensive coordinator, K-State has finished in the top three in the conference in blocking three of the past five years. He coordinates and evaluates all statistical and video applications for the program as well as coordinating tape exchange and creating opponent scouting reports.
"It's very unusual to have the opportunity in the coaching business to work with someone as long as Jeff and I have. He is a man of strong character and commitment and is philosophically a great fit for K-State and the way we want to do things," Fritz said. "He has tremendous technical knowledge, understands training at a high level and is excellent with statistical measurement and analysis. I trust in and have the highest respect for him, both as a person and a volleyball coach."
As the defensive coordinator for the team, Grove has coached a number of great defensive players in K-State history, including the most prolific libero the Wildcats have had. Lastra finished her career atop the career digs list with 2,032. She holds numerous school records, including digs by a freshman and senior and digs in a season. Lastra also was the first libero to be named Big 12 Player of the Week before the conference created an award for both offense and defense.
Grove has made the Wildcat defense tough to break making the opponent's attack less efficient. Counting Grove's first and current stints on staff, the Wildcats have held their opponents to a hitting percentage under .200 in eight of his 13 seasons, including a low .164 in the team's Big 12 Championship run in 2003.
In July 2008, Grove coached at the USA High Performance Championship in Tucson, Ariz. He served as an assistant coach for the Junior National A2 Team and worked with some of the top young talent in the nation.
Full Coach Jeff Grove Bio
Assistant Coach Jeff Hulsmeyer
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Contact Coach Hulsmeyer
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Jeff Hulsmeyer joined the Kansas State coaching staff in 2009 and adds 17 years of experience as an assistant and head coach to the Wildcat program. His previous coaching stint came at Georgetown College in Kentucky where he saw quick success. At K-State his responsibilities include serving as the offensive coordinator as well as recruiting coordinator.
As the head coach of Georgetown College, an NAIA school, he led the Tigers to a 75-14 record over two years and a No. 5 ranking in 2007. Both years he was named the conference and region coach of the year. Before his time at Georgetown College, Hulsmeyer was the head coach at Purdue from 1999-2003. At Purdue, he helped the Boilermakers win the President’s Cup as the team with the highest GPA at the school. During his four years at Purdue, the team placed 20 student-athletes on the Big Ten All-Academic team.
At K-State he has worked with the setters and helped convert Caitlyn Donahue to the position from defensive specialist. In her second year playing the position, Donahue ranked second in the Big 12 Conference in assists per set at 11.22. She also had 16 double-doubles in 2011 as well as posted the first triple-double in school history since Gabby Guerre in 2004.
“Jeff has been a wonderful addition to our staff,” Fritz said. “He brings great experience at all levels and is a proven trainer and recruiter. His enthusiasm for coaching, his character and integrity and his level of commitment to our program and our players will be exceptional.”
Hulsmeyer also had two coaching stints in the Sun Belt Conference as head coach at Arkansas State and Western Kentucky. At Arkansas State he led the then-named Indians to conference championships in all three seasons. During those three years, the team never lost a regular season conference match and made two NCAA Tournament appearances by winning the conference tournament.
In three seasons as the head coach of the Hilltoppers, Hulsmeyer led Western Kentucky to two Sun Belt Conference runner-up performances. He turned the team around in his first season with a 32-9 record a year after the Hilltoppers had a losing record overall. Before becoming the head coach at Western Kentucky, he worked on the staff as a graduate assistant while working toward a master’s degree.
Hulsmeyer is a two-time Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year winning the award once in 1991 with Western Kentucky and again in 1994 when leading Arkansas State to a conference title.
Full Coach Jeff Hulsmeyer Bio |
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