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E-Mail: cbayer@sports.uga.edu
Colleen Bayer has been named assistant volleyball coach at the University of Georgia, head coach Lizzy Stemke announced Wednesday. Bayer's on-court training responsibilities will include pin hitters and passers and will assist in the coordination of the offense. Off the court, Bayer will be the liaison to academics, strength and conditioning and nutrition. She will also serve as the director of camps, community outreach and alumni relations and will help freshmen make the transition to college.
"I am really excited about this tremendous opportunity to join the Bulldog volleyball program," Bayer said. "It will be an honor to work at the University of Georgia where a world-class education is met by the desire to provide the very best student-athlete experience. I look forward to teaming with both Lizzy and Josh as well as the student-athletes to build upon the great accomplishments of Georgia volleyball."
"I have known Colleen for a long time and we are excited to add her extensive experience and knowledge of the game as well as her understanding of all that it takes to succeed at the highest level both on the court and the classroom as a student-athlete," Stemke said.
Bayer comes to Georgia after spending seven seasons as the assistant coach at Wisconsin. While there, she assisted with recruiting efforts, academics, alumni relations, camps and team development.
Bayer was a four-year letterwinner at Wisconsin from 1995-98. She played her first two seasons as a defensive specialist and back-up setter. Bayer took over the starting setter job as a junior and senior, earning All-Big Ten honors in 1997 and 1998. She was also a two-time AVCA All-District 2 selection and was named to the 1997 and 1998 NCAA Regional All-Tournament teams, leading the Badgers to top-eight finishes. Bayer was the Badgers' team captain in 1998 and also earned two Academic All-Big Ten honors. With Bayer setting, Wisconsin won the 1997 Big Ten Championship and finished second in 1998.
Following her collegiate career, Bayer played with the United States Professional Volleyball league. She was a member of the USPV Dream Team in 1999-2000. Bayer played professionally with USC-Muenster in Muenster, Germany, in 2000 before returning to play one year with the Minnesota Chill of the USPV. She served as the captain of the Chill, which won the 2002 USPV league title.
Bayer served as an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Sting Volleyball Club in 1996 and with the Wisconsin Select Volleyball Club in 1997. In 2000, Bayer worked as an assistant coach with the 16-1 team of the Sports Performance Volleyball Club. Her team finished ninth in the country and won the AAU National Championship.
Bayer served as the head freshman coach and varsity assistant coach at St. Charles (Ill.) East High School in 2001, aiding the varsity squad to the Illinois state championship. Since 2002, she worked at the Great Lakes Center in Aurora, Ill., as a sales assistant and office manager.
A native of Pewaukee, Wis., and a graduate of Catholic Memorial High School in Waukesha, Wis., Bayer graduated from Wisconsin in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in human development and family studies. She and her husband, Dave are the parents of three children, Max (4), Ben (2) and Samantha (born April 2009).
"Colleen was an incredible competitor as a player and her experiences in this sport will be extremely valuable as we continue to build our Bulldog volleyball program," added Stemke.
