Newberry Names Matt Sonnichsen as Volleyball Coach

NEWBERRY, S.C. - Newberry College Vice-President for Intercollegiate Athletics Director Andy Carter is pleased to announce the hiring of Matt Sonnichsen as the school's new head volleyball coach.

Sonnichsen comes from Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa where he was an assistant coach during the 2006 season under his father, Tom.

Before he came to Grinnell, Sonnichsen was the top assistant coach at the University of California at Santa Barbara. While at UCSB, he was responsible for team training, international student-athlete recruitment, and team travel.

Sonnichsen has extensive head coaching experience on the Division I level. He served as the head coach at the University of Tulsa for eight years. While at Tulsa, Sonnichsen led the Hurricanes to their first winning season in 20 years in 2000. His squad finished in second in the Eastern Division of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in 2004 and earned a third place finish in Conference USA (C-USA) in 2005. He coached four players who were named Academic All-Americans as well as coaching over 30 Academic All-Conference selections while at Tulsa.

In the winter of 2006, Sonnichsen was the first coach from the U.S.A. to coach a team in the Puerto Rican Women's Professional Volleyball League.

Sonnichsen earned a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1994. While at UCLA, he was a member of the two-time NCAA Champion Bruins men's volleyball team, playing from 1986-89. He was a three-time All-American and was a NCAA All-Tournament selection from 1987-89.

As a professional volleyball player, Sonnichsen played for the USA National Team from 1990-91 and played in the Goodwill Games in Seattle, Washington. Sonnichsen also played in the Swiss Professional League with two different clubs; LUC Lausanne and MTV Nafels.

"We are truly blessed to get someone with Matt's credentials and pedigree to lead our Volleyball program, said Carter. From the beginning of the selection process, Matt set himself apart from the competition with passion and fire for wanting to build a championship program at Newberry College. He is a first class person and will build a first class program. He and his family are a great fit for Newberry College."

"I am excited about joining Newberry College and calling Newberry, South Carolina home, said Sonnichsen. During my interview, I was very impressed with Athletic Director Andy Carter and the staff and coaches that he has assembled during his tenure. Newberry College is enjoying tremendous growth academically and athletically, and has empowered me to build a winning volleyball program."

"While my background as a player and coach is with NCAA Division I athletics, Newberry College allows me the opportunity to build a winning volleyball program within a personally supportive environment, while being able to spend more time with my wife and daughter. It is a great situation - I get to work at a place that supports coaches first and foremost, and I get to raise my family in a wonderful part of the country."