UW-Stevens Point Announces Coaching Changes
- June 21, 2001
White Named UW-Stevens Point Volleyball
Coach
Stacey White, a former four-year letterwinner at UW-River Falls has
been named the head volleyball coach at UW-Stevens Point.
White, 26, played at UW-River Falls from 1993-97 and replaces Kelly
Geiger, who resigned after three seasons to spend more time with her family.
"By playing in the conference, I know a lot about the tradition
of the teams and how tough this league is," said White, who is the 10th
coach in Pointer volleyball history. "It'll be a challenge, but the
players and staff really seem excited about the direction the program is
heading."
White, a Monticello, Minn., native spent the past season as the head
junior varsity coach and assistant varsity coach at Concordia University in
St. Paul, Minn. She graduated from UW-River Falls in 1998 with a degree in
Health and Human Performance and added a Master's Degree in Kinesiology from
the University of Minnesota while coaching at Concordia.
"Stacey brings a lot of experience in Minnesota and Wisconsin,
and particularly, the WIAC," UW-Stevens Point athletics director Frank
O'Brien said. "She understands the level of play in this conference and
we're very pleased she will be joining our staff."
White has coached two junior Olympic squads and was a track and field
standout at UW-River Falls, qualifying for the NCAA Division III outdoor
championships in both the shot put and discus as a senior.
White takes over a Pointer squad that finished 12-22 last season and
eighth in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Under Geiger,
the Pointers were 47-57, including a 21-12 mark in her first season, marking
the winningest first season of any UW-Stevens Point coach.
Geiger also was an assistant coach with the Pointers for four seasons
prior to taking over the head coaching position.
"We wish Kelly the best of luck and appreciate the seven years
of service to our program," O'Brien said. "We're happy she's
remaining in the community and will continue to be a resource."
Idalski Replaces Lesteberg as Interim
Women's Ice Hockey Coach
Former UW-Stevens Point men's hockey player Brian Idalski has been
named the interim head coach of the Pointer women's ice hockey program.
Idalski replaces Jason Lesteberg, who was named the head coach at
Division I Bemidji State, despite spending just one year at UW-Stevens Point
and guiding the Pointers to a 13-13-1 record in their inaugural varsity
season.
Idalski was a defenseman for the Pointers from 1992-95 and posted
five goals and 20 assists in 97 career games. He played and coached with the
Columbus (Ga.) Cottonmouths of the Central Hockey League following his
playing career with the Pointers. Idalski returned to UW-Stevens Point as an
assistant coach with the Pointers' men's team last season.
"We're extremely pleased that someone with Brian's
qualifications was available," O'Brien said. "Brian has a quality
coaching background and has been a Pointer for the past decade. We're glad
he'll be back with us again next season."
Lesteberg was the first-ever Northern Collegiate Hockey Association
Coach of the Year last season after leading a first-year Pointer squad that
had just 15 players and none with any collegiate hockey experience.
UW-Stevens Point finished third of five teams in the NCHA and was 11-0-1
against other first-year programs.
"These opportunities come few and far between," O'Brien
said of Lesteberg's move to Division I. "We wish Jason luck in Bemidji
and are grateful of the outstanding job he did elevating our women's squad
from club status to varsity."
Bemidji State is in its fourth season of varsity women's hockey.
Lesteberg replaces three-year coach Ruthann Cantile, who resigned after
posting a 26-62-3 record. The Beavers play in the prestigious Western
Collegiate Hockey Association, which includes the University of Wisconsin
and defending national champion Minnesota-Duluth.
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