Ginny Alexander Named Converse Volleyball Coach
Spartanburg, S.C.— Converse College athletic director, Joy Couch, has announced Virginia ‘Ginny’ Alexander as the Converse College volleyball coach. Alexander replaces Bill Rude, who resigned in December. Coach Alexander will be looking to improve on the team’s third place conference finish this past season.
"It is an honor and privilege to have been chosen to be the Head Volleyball Coach at Converse College,” says Alexander of her new position. “My commitment to assisting in the positive development of young women mirrors the vision of Converse. I am excited about working with the administration, staff and student-athletes as we merge our talents for success".
Alexander brings over 16 years of volleyball coaching experience to Converse. Her most recent post was as the head volleyball coach at Asheville High School where she also taught physical education and health classes.
Prior to moving to North Carolina, Coach Alexander served as the Director of Programs for the Police Athletic League (P.A.L.) in Jacksonville, Florida. While at P.A.L., Alexander also created and directed the P.A.L. volleyball teams and trained the coaches.
Coach Alexander served in the college ranks from 1988 to 2000 before moving to California where she spent time at San Diego State University developing their CHAMPS (Challenging Athletes Lives for Personal Success) Life Skills Program for over 500 student-athletes. Alexander first began her coaching career in 1987 at her almer mater, Fletcher High School in Jacksonville Beach, Florida where she served as the assistant volleyball and softball coach. She then went on to become the graduate assistant coach at Western Kentucky University for one year before serving as the assistant volleyball coach at Michigan State from 1989-1991. Following her two seasons with the Spartans, Alexander became the head men’s volleyball coach at Bowling Green State University while completing her Master’s Degree in Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Coach Alexander’s next stop was in Pennsylvania where she served as the head volleyball coach at NCAA Division I institutions Drexel University and Temple University. While at Drexel, Alexander’s team finished second in the North Atlantic Conference and eclipsed the 20 win mark. During her time at Temple, Coach Alexander led the Owls to their best season in the program’s history at that time. For her efforts, Alexander was named the Atlantic 10 Conference Coach of the Year. She also coached the team’s first ever Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year.
Following her post at Temple, Alexander began her westward movement to become the head volleyball coach at Utah State University. The Aggies, who are now a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), competed in the Big West Conference of Division I during Alexander’s tenure. Coach Alexander recruited and coached the Aggies’ first Big West Freshman of the Year as well as the program’s first Big West First Team All-Conference player and Freshman All-American. In 1997, under Alexander’s leadership, the Aggies’ achieved the most wins since 1983.