Former Assistant Coach - Sue Woodstra

SUE WOODSTRA
U.S. Women's National Team Assistant Coach (2007-2008)

Susan Woodstra completed her second year as assistant coach for the USA women's national volleyball team. She began her duties with Team USA on June 1, 2007, and continued in that role through the 2008 Olympics while on hiatus from her head coaching duties at Humboldt State University.

Woodstra, who played against U.S. Head Coach Lang Ping in the 1984 Olympic Games on opposite sides of the net, was instrumental in assisting Lang Ping and Team USA to a silver medal at the 2008 Olympic Games. The U.S. defeated second-ranked Italy, third-ranked Cuba and 2004 Olympic Games champion China along the way. During the 2008 season, the Americans finished with a 22-11 record despite tinkering with the lineup to find the ideal Olympic Games roster.

Woodstra immediately provided dividends for the U.S. Women's National Team program upon her hire in 2007. After a disappointing 16-12 record in 2006 without her on staff, she played a key role in the Americans improving by 10 victories in 2007 and claiming a bronze medal at the FIVB World Cup. Woodstra also served as head coach of the U.S. Women's National Team at the Pan American Games in August 2007, which led to a bronze medal despite having a roster of only two full-time starters from the previous season.

Woodstra spent five seasons as the head women's volleyball coach at Humboldt State University in Arcata, Calif. She returned as head coach of the Humboldt State volleyball program in 2008 after the Olympics.

Woodstra's 12-year college coaching career includes head coaching stints at University of Pittsburgh (1989-92) and University of California-Berkeley (1995-98). She mentored Pittsburgh to four consecutive conference championships and NCAA appearances for the Panthers. During that time, she earned Big East Coach of the Year honors in 1990. After Pittsburgh, Woodstra spent a year coaching internationally at the professional level in Germany, guiding the USC Munster team to a 28-4 record and the C.E.V. European Cup Championship in 1993.

Woodstra served as an assistant coach on the U.S. Girls' Youth National Team that won the 2006 NORCECA Girls' Youth Continental Championship in Gainesville, Fla. The victory qualified the U.S. for the FIVB Girls' Youth World Championship that will take place Aug. 2-12, 2007, in Mexico.

Woodstra brings additional Olympic playing experience to the U.S. Women's National Team coaching staff that already boasts gold medalist Lang Ping. Woodstra is a two-time member of U.S. Olympic Teams in the early 1980s. She was captain of the 1984 U.S. Olympic Team that captured a silver medal in Los Angeles. Woodstra also was a member of the 1980 Olympic Team that did not compete due to the boycott. Overall, she spent eight years on the U.S. Women's National Team.

As a standout outside hitter at the University of Southern California, Woodstra helped the Lady Trojans to the 1977 AIAW National Championship while earning All-America honors.

Outside of competing for Team USA, Woodstra played four seasons (1984-88) on the professional level for the NEC Volleyball Team of the Japanese League. She is a four-time USVBA Women's Open First-Team All-American (1975, 1985-87) and the 1986 USVBA Women's Open Player of the Year. Woodstra competed on three USVBA Women's Open National Championship teams.

Woodstra has been honored by USA Volleyball on several occasions. In 1993, she was selected as a USVBA Flo Hyman All-Time Great Volleyball Player for her career achievements. Woodstra earned a spot on the USVBA All-Era Team as part of the 2002-03 USA Volleyball Diamond Jubilee Celebration commemorating the organization's 75th Anniversary.

The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) inducted Woodstra into its Hall of Fame on Dec. 13, 2006.