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04/24/2013
Illini Networkers to Host Volleyball Family Reunion in May
Events include a golf outing, a reception and an alumni match at Kenney Gym
04/11/2013
Illini Add Two to Incoming Class
Danielle Davis and McKenna Kelsay to don the Orange and Blue next fall
03/07/2013
First Annual Chop Chef Fundraiser a Big Hit
Over 140 Illini faithful came out to help send the team to Europe
01/29/2013
Networkers to Host Chop Chef Competition on February 28
The event will help raise funds for the volleyball team's European trip
01/17/2013
Jayme Gergen Hired as Assistant Volleyball Coach
Gergen comes to Illinois after coaching stints at Ohio State and Virginia Tech
11/24/2012
Illinois at Northwestern - Nov. 21, 2012
Photos by Craig Pessman from the Illini's 3-2 victory at Northwestern on Nov. 21, 2012.
10/06/2012
Illinois vs. Penn State 10/6/12
Photos from Illinois vs. Penn State match
09/23/2012
Illinois vs. Wisconsin - Sept. 23, 2012
Photos from the Illini's 3-2 victory over the Badgers.
07/19/2012
Serve-A-Thon Photos
Photos from the Chicago Cares Serve-A-Thon
khambly2@uiuc.edu
217/333-8606
The Kevin Hambly File
HometownSimi Valley, Calif.
Educaton
B.S., Recreation Sport & Tourism, University of Illinois, 2006
Family
Wife, Mary
Daughters, Quinn, Maura
Playing Experience
BYU, 1992-95
MUC Club, Montpelier, France
1995-96
Coaching Experience
Assistant Coach
UNLV, 1996-2001
Assistant Coach
USA Olympic Team, 2001-04
Assistant Coach,
Minnesota Chill, 2002
Assistant Coach
University of Illinois, 2004-2008
Head Coach
University of Illinois, 2009
HEAD COACHING RECORD
2011 University of Illinois 32-5 Second, Big Ten; NCAA Runners-up 2010 University of Illinois 24-9 Second, Big Ten; NCAA Sweet 16 2009 University of Illinois 26-6 Second, Big Ten; NCAA Sweet 16 Overall Record 82-20
Coaching Honors
2011 Volleyball Magazine Coach of the YearKevin Hambly has taken Illinois volleyball to new heights in his tenure in Champaign. In his three years as head coach, Illinois is 82-20 with three trips to the NCAA Sweet 16, including 2011's historic run to the national championship game.
As a result Hambly was named Volleyball Magazine's National Coach of the Year. Following the season, Athletic Director Mike Thomas announced an extension of Hambly's contract through the 2017 season.
In 2011, Illinois reached several milestones. The team swept a season series from four-time defending NCAA champion Penn State for the first time in school history. Illinois was the last team to lose a match, starting the season 20-0 and resulting in the school's first-ever No. 1 ranking. A total of six schools held the No. 1 ranking last year, but none more than Illinois. The Illini won the Gainesville Regional to advance to the program's first National Semifinal since 1988 and with a victory over No. 1 USC, advanced to to meet UCLA in the school's first ever national championship match. The Illini defeated the Women of Troy in San Antonio in an epic five-set match. The final point lasted more than a minute and was one of the top plays on ESPN's Sportscenter that night.
Since his arrival in Champaign, the Illini have garnered three top-10 recruiting classes, including the 2011 Class that ranked No. 3 nationally. The 2011 team included 11 players who were top-60 prospects of their respective class, including Liz McMahon, who was No. 3; Anna Dorn, who was No. 6; Colleen Ward, who was No. 7 and Michelle Bartsch, who was No. 16.
His teams have gone head-to-head with some of the powers of the game, both in the Big Ten and in the non-conference, and have done so with a measure of success. The Illini are 27-3 in the pre-conference schedule in the three years with Hambly as head coach and have finished runner-up in the Big Ten Conference three straight years.
A total of five players have earned nine All-America honors, including outside hitter Laura DeBruler, who became the fourth First Team AVCA All-American in 2009 and Ward, who accomplished that feat in 2011. In addition, Bartsch was named a first team All-American by Volleyball Magazine. The Illini have produced in the classroom, combining for 26 Academic All-Big Ten honors in the last three seasons with Johannah
Bangert one of just six players to earn First Team Academic All-America in 2010. Illinois went 26-6 in his first year as head coach, finishing in sole possession of second place in the Big Ten and reaching the Sweet 16.
His second year as a head coach in 2010 brought victories over a pair of No. 2 ranked teams, including eventual national champion Penn State, who fell to the Illini in five sets in front of the first sellout at Huff Hall in 18 years.
The interest in the volleyball program is at a height that hasn't been seen in a generation. Hambly is involved in the community, a regular requested speaker for area groups. He conducts Chalktalks for the Illinois volleyball booster club, "The Networkers" before every home game, giving fans an inside look at the scouting report for that night's match. Membership in that organization continues to grow.
That has translated in a spike in attendance where the team had three crowds of 3,900 or more in 2011, including a sellout crowd of 4,261 in an undefeated showdown with Purdue. Five of the top 13 all-time Illinois crowds have come in the Hambly era and the 2011 season average of 2,475 was third most in school history and ranked 10th nationally.
Hambly was named the seventh head coach in the program's history and just the third in the last quarter century on Jan. 8, 2008. He replaced Don Hardin, who retired after 13 years as head man at Illinois. Hambly, who had a number of years of international coaching experience, served as assistant coach for the Fighting Illini for five years prior, the first two years as a volunteer assistant and the last three as a full-time assistant. His impact was felt in every area of the program.
Hambly was in charge of practice planning, training and scouting as well as recruiting in his final years as an assistant. The level of play was raised over his time at Illinois, bringing with him many of the techniques and philosophies he developed under Toshi Yoshida, the U.S. National team coach for the 2004 Olympics in Athens.
With Hambly serving as an assistant coach, the U.S. went from 12th to first in the Federation of International Volleyball (FIVB) world rankings in the nine months leading up to the games for just the second time. In those four years, the U.S. won the NORCECA championship four years in a row, won a silver medal at the World Championships, a bronze medal at the World Cup and a gold and two bronze medals at World Grand Prix Tournaments.
A native of Simi Valley, Calif., Hambly was an All-American in volleyball at Royal High School and chose to play that sport at BYU, leading the nation in blocks in 1995. Hambly was named to the Volleyball Monthly All-Freshman Team in 1992, was selected as a third-team All-American in 1994 and earned American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) First Team All-America honors in 1995. The Cougars ended the season ranked in the top 10 in the nation three times and came within one win of the Final Four twice in Hambly's playing days.
Hambly played professionally for Montpellier University Club in France, leading the league in hitting efficiency and in blocks before beginning his coaching career as an assistant at UNLV in 1997. In his four years in Las Vegas, the Rebels produced nine all-conference performers. Hambly also founded and directed the Rebel volleyball club, which evolved into the highly respected Club Las Vegas team and founded the men's volleyball club team at UNLV. While at BYU he also served as the head coach of the Highline Volleyball Club's 16 & under teams for two years.
His experience with USA Volleyball began in 2001 where, in addition to serving as an assistant for the national team, he was also the head coach of the USA Women's National Training Team for two tournaments during his tenure. In 2002, he guided the team to fifth at the Pan American Cup in Mexico. In 2003, he led the team to third place at the Mexicali Centenarian Women's Volleyball Cup and second at the Pan American Cup. Hambly continues to serve USA Volleyball as a consultant during try-outs.
He also served as an assistant coach for Minnesota of the United States Professional Volleyball, helping lead the Chill to the league championship in 2002.
Hambly graduated with highest honors from the University of Illinois in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation, Sport and Tourism with an emphasis in sports management. He and Mary have two daughters, Quinn (6) and Maura (4).
