UW-Lacrosse Search Narrowed to Three for Head Volleyball Coach

La Crosse, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse has named its three finalists to be interviewed for the head volleyball coach position, according to the campus search and screen committee.  The three finalists are Lillian Hallock, graduate assistant volleyball coach at Smith College (Mass.); Ben Staupe, assistant volleyball coach at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater; and Kevin Ulmer, assistant volleyball coach at Georgetown College (Ky.).
 
Hallock has served as a graduate assistant volleyball coach at Smith College (Mass.) the last two seasons.  She was the Pioneers' interim head volleyball coach from January to June, 2011.  Along with her coaching duties at Smith College, Hallock is a teaching fellow in the exercise and sports studies program.  She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Oregon in 2006 in human physiology and is currently pursuing her master's degree in exercise and sports studies at Smith College.          
 
Prior to arriving at Smith College, Hallock was the assistant volleyball coach and assistant director of the fitness center at the University of California, Santa Cruz from 2007 to 2010.  She served as the assistant volleyball varsity coach at South Eugene (Oregon) High School from 2004 to 2006.
 
As a player, Hallock was a four-year starting setter at UC Santa Cruz from 1999 to 2003, earning first team all-conference honors her senior season. She was a three-year team captain and two-year team MVP for the Banaga Slugs.  Hallock also played basketball at UC Santa Cruz.
 
Staupe has worked as an assistant volleyball coach at UW-Whitewater since 2010.  He also serves as a lecturer in the Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Coaching.  Staupe earned his bachelor's degree (2001) in exercise sports science and master's degree (2003) in human performance from UW-La Crosse.
 
Prior to going to UW-Whitewater, Staupe was the head volleyball coach and education specialist at Rock Valley College (Ill.) from 2002 to 2010.  He compiled a record of 192-101 at Rock Valley in eight seasons, winning four conference titles and two regional championships.  The Golden Eagles placed second at the 2004 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Tournament and fifth in 2007.
 
Staupe was named the Illinois N4C Conference Coach of the Year four times and earned NJCAA Region IV Coach of the Year honors twice.  He was selected the 2004 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Midwest Region Coach of the Year.  Rock Valley College (Ill.) had 34 all-conference selections, 22 all-region honorees, seven NJCAA All-Americas and five NCJAA Academic All-Americas under Staupe.

He was the 2008-09 Starz Volleyball Club (Ill.) Director and head coach of Club Fusion Volleyball (Ill.) in 2007-08 and 2009-10.  Staupe served as an assistant volleyball coach at Viterbo University (Wis.) in 2001 and was the head freshman volleyball coach and assistant varsity girls' volleyball coach at Onalaska (Wis.) High School in 2000.  He played setter for the UW-L volleyball club team in 1997-98 and was a setter and defensive specialist at Kettle Moraine (Wis.) High School.
 
Ulmer has served as an assistant volleyball coach at Georgetown College (Ky.) since 2011.  He also teaches in the kinesiology and health science department.  He earned his bachelor's degree in physical education and health at Northwestern College (Iowa) in 2006 and his master's degree in biomechanics and exercise physiology from the University of Kentucky in 2011.
 
Prior to arriving as an assistant coach at Georgetown College (Ky.), Ulmer taught in the kinesiology and health promotion department at the University of Kentucky from 2009 to 2011.
 
He was the head coach for USA Junior Olympic Volleyball from 2006 to 2009 after serving as the head high school and middle school volleyball coach at Chattanooga (Tenn.) Christian School from 2006 to 2009, leading the team to the district championship and regional tournament for the first time in six seasons.  Ulmer was also a teacher in physical education and senior wellness at Chattanooga (Tenn.) Christian High School.  He was a student assistant volleyball coach at Northwestern College (Iowa) in 2004.
 
A certified strength and conditioning specialist, Ulmer served as the strength coach for the Georgetown College (Ky.) volleyball team.  He has also been a volunteer strength coach at the University of Kentucky.
 
Hallock will be on campus Monday, January 23; Staupe on Tuesday, January 24 and Ulmer on Friday, January 27.