Augustana College director of athletics Bill Gross today announced that Kim Sudbeck has resigned as head volleyball coach, ending her 13-season career on the Viking sideline. Gross also announced that assistant coach Ashley Buckley has been named the Vikings eighth head volleyball coach. The announcement came Tuesday at a press conference in the Sivertson Lounge of the Morrison Commons Building .
Sudbeck, a Sioux Falls native, spent 13 seasons directing the Augustana volleyball program, amassing a career record of 287-122. The winningest coach in Viking volleyball history, she guided the Vikings to four North Central Conference titles, 11 appearances in the NCAA Division II region playoffs in the last 12 years, one North Central Region Championship and the schools first appearance in the 2000 Elite Eight where Augustana finished as the national runner-up.
"She's taken Augustana volleyball to the top level of Division II," Gross said. "Her enthusiasm, commitment and the way her players have represented Augustana College has been simply outstanding. So we thank her for what shes done and wish her the best."
A three-time North Central Conference Coach of the Year (1996, 1997, 2003) and the 2000 Tachikara/American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) North Central Region Coach of the Year, Sudbeck coached 8 AVCA All-Americans, including the 2000 National Player of the Year in Kari Peterson. In addition, she coached 2 NCC Most Valuable Players (Ann Sieckert in 1996 and Sara Larson in 2003) and 3 NCC Freshmen of the Year (Kari Peterson in 1998, Angie Hummel in 2002 and Andrea Oswald in 2003).
Sudbeck's teams were consistently ranked in the AVCA Division II Top 25. Nine times in 13 seasons the Vikings finished the season ranked in the Top 25, including a top 10 final ranking five times.
"Working here at Augustana has given me so many wonderful memories," Sudbeck said. "I've had the chance to grow in my profession, but more importantly, Ive had the opportunity love my job every day. I've been very lucky in that respect. But I feel now that there are some new challenges that await me."
Prior to coming to Augustana as a coach, Sudbeck served as assistant volleyball and softball coach at Morningside College during the 1993 season. She was the assistant volleyball coach at South Dakota State University from August 1991 to December 1992, and served as the Jackrabbits interim head coach from January 1993 to May 1993. Sudbeck was assistant volleyball coach at O'Gorman High School in Sioux Falls from 1987-1990.
A 1991 graduate of Augustana College , Sudbeck was a member of the Vikings softball team. She was named to the All-North Central Conference and All-Region teams in 1990, as well as Academic All-NCC in both 1990 and 1991. In 1991, she was a member of the NCAA Division II national championship team and was named to the Final Four All-Tournament Team.
"When I got this position as a 25-year-old, I thought this was my dream job," Sudbeck said. "I've lived that dream but now its time to move on and live another dream. I believe I have done all I can do here and I think Ashley will be able to come in, provide the program with some renewed energy and take it to new heights."
While the coaching change takes place immediately, Sudbeck said she will fulfill her commitment to run her summer camps, both at Augustana and at the YMCA.
Gross did not have to look very far to find Sudbeck's successor. In somewhat ironic fashion, he found another 25-year-old Sioux Falls native to take over the program.
"When Kim and I talked about the vision for the volleyball program, it was clear to both of us that we had the person right here to lead us into the future," Gross said. "Ashley not only has outstanding playing experience at a very high level, but she also has maturity beyond her years which will provide outstanding leadership for the volleyball program in the years ahead."
Buckley joined the Viking coaching staff prior to the 2007 season after spending the 2006 campaign as an assistant coach at the University of Sioux Falls .
Buckley, the former Ashley Pederson, was a starting outside hitter at Penn State University from 2001-2004. As a team captain, Buckley led the Nittany Lions to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances, two Big Ten Conference championships (2003, 2004), and the 2003 NCAA Elite Eight. Buckley holds the Penn State record for single season attempts (1,444). She is also ninth overall in career kills (1,340), and third in career attempts (3,733). The Nittany Lions posted a record of 107-24 during her collegiate career.
Following her collegiate career, Buckley played professionally in the Superliga Femenina with the Club Cajasur of Cordoba, Spain.
A 2001 graduate of Roosevelt High School, Buckley was the South Dakota Gatorade Player of The Year as a senior and she was selected to the Volleyball Magazine Fab 50.
"I feel very fortunate, being from Sioux Falls, to take over as head coach at Augustana College," Buckley said. "Everything has fallen into place and doors have opened. I couldn't ask for a better opportunity, or a better school, to begin my head coaching career."
"I've had the opportunity to play for a lot of coaches and I've seen volleyball played at several different levels," Buckley added. "I want to take that experience and create an environment here for our players to succeed. I want volleyball to be a valuable part of their college experience."
Buckley inherits a program that went 19-11 last fall and advanced to the NCAA Division II North Central Regional Tournament. The Vikings return 9 out of a possible 10 letterwinners as well as all 6 starters in 2008 as they begin their first season of competition in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
Kim Sudbeck
Augustana Head Volleyball Coach
13 Seasons (1995-2007)
North Central Conference Coach of the Year 1996, 1997, 2003
AVCA North Central Region Coach of the Year - 2000
Kim Sudbeck spent 13 seasons directing the Augustana volleyball program, amassing a career record of 287-122. The winningest coach in Viking volleyball history, she guided the Vikings to four North Central Conference titles, 11 appearances in the NCAA Division II region playoffs in the last 12 years, one North Central Region Championship and the schools first appearance in the 2000 Elite Eight where Augustana finished as the national runner-up.
Augie not only advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time in 2000, but the Vikings hosted both the regional and national tournaments as well. As a result, Sudbeck was selected as the Tachikara/American Volleyball Coaches Association North Central Region Coach of the Year.
A three-time North Central Conference Coach of the Year (1996, 1997, 2003), Sudbeck coached 8 AVCA All-Americans, including the 2000 National Player of the Year in Kari Peterson. In addition, she coached 2 NCC Most Valuable Players (Ann Sieckert in 1996 and Sara Larson in 2003) and 3 NCC Freshmen of the Year (Kari Peterson in 1998, Angie Hummel in 2002 and Andrea Oswald in 2003).
Sudbeck's teams were consistently ranked in the AVCA Division II Top 25. Nine times in 13 seasons the Vikings finished the season ranked in the Top 25, including a top 10 final ranking five times.
In 1993, before taking the head coach position at Augustana College , Sudbeck served as assistant volleyball and softball coach at Morningside College . She was the assistant volleyball coach at South Dakota State University from August 1991 to December 1992, and served as the Jackrabbits interim head coach from January 1993 to May 1993. Sudbeck was assistant volleyball coach at O'Gorman High School in Sioux Falls from 1987-1990. During her tenure at O'Gorman, the team won two state championship titles. Sudbeck was inducted into the O'Gorman High School Hall of Fame in September of 2002.
A 1991 graduate of Augustana College, Sudbeck was a member of the Vikings softball team. She was named to the All-North Central Conference and All-Region teams in 1990, as well as Academic All-NCC in both 1990 and 1991. In 1991, she was a member of the NCAA Division II national championship team and was named to the Final Four All-Tournament Team. Sudbeck earned her master's degree from South Dakota State University in 1993.
Sudbeck was also very active in the AVCA. She served multiple terms as chair of the Division II All-America committee, while also serving as the Division II Representative on the AVCA Board of Directors.
Augustana Volleyball Career Wins List
Coach (Years) Record Pct.
Kim Sudbeck (1995-2007) 287-122-0 .707
Sandy Jerstad (1982-87) 174-117-3 .597
Zaundra Bina (1990-94) 130-54-0 .707
Bonnie Almond (1972-75, 77-78) 60-74-0 .448
Carmen Hecht (1988-89) 41-30-0 .600
Kathy Mahan (1979-81) 38-71-1 .364
Jean Fuller (1976) 13-13-0 .500
The Kim Sudbeck Era
Year Record Season Highlight
1995 21-13
1996 32-4 NCC Champions; NCAA Tournament
1997 28-7 NCC Champions; NCAA Tournament
1998 26-8 NCAA Tournament
1999 22-8 NCAA Tournament
2000 30-4 NCC Champions; NCAA National Runner-Up
2001 23-9 NCAA Tournament
2002 17-14
2003 22-8 NCC Champions; NCAA Tournament
2004 17-10 NCAA Tournament
2005 15-12 NCAA Tournament
2006 15-14 NCAA Tournament
2007 19-11 NCAA Tournament
Total 287-122 4 NCC Championships, 11 NCAA Tournament Appearances,
1 National Runner-Up Finish
Ashley Buckley
Augustana Head Volleyball Coach
Named on May 13, 2008
Ashley Buckley enters her first season as an assistant volleyball coach at Augustana College.
Before being named Augustanas eighth head volleyball coach, Buckley spent the 2007 season as Kim Sudbecks top assistant. Buckley joined the Viking coaching staff prior to the 2007 season after spending the 2006 campaign as an assistant coach at the University of Sioux Falls .
A Sioux Falls native, Buckley, the former Ashley Pederson, was a starting outside hitter at Penn State University from 2001-2004. As a team captain, Buckley led the Nittany Lions to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances, two Big Ten Conference championships (2003, 2004), and the 2003 NCAA Elite Eight. Buckley holds the Penn State record for single season attempts (1,444). She is also ninth overall in career kills (1,340), and third in career attempts (3,733). The Nittany Lions posted a record of 107-24 during her collegiate career.
Following her collegiate career, Buckley played professionally in the Superliga Femenina with the Club Cajasur of Cordoba, Spain.
A graduate of Roosevelt High School in 2001, Buckley was the South Dakota Gatorade Player of The Year as a senior and she was selected to the Volleyball Magazine Fab 50.
Buckley earned her bachelors degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Penn State in 2005.
Buckley and her husband Jeff live in Sioux Falls .
