Springfield, Ohio – Wittenberg University Director of Athletics and Recreation Gary Williams has announced that Evan Amstutz, class of 2013, has been named head coach of the newly created men’s volleyball program.
Amstutz returns to his alma mater after a successful two-year stint as a volunteer assistant coach with the women’s program at Miami University (Ohio), where he also pursued a master’s degree in exercise science. During his two years with the Redhawks, Amstutz was involved in all aspects of the program as Miami improved each season, culminating with a runner-up finish in the 2014 Mid-American Conference Tournament.
Amstutz also has four years of coaching experience with the Wittenberg women’s volleyball program and Head Coach Paco Labrador as a student assistant. He was involved in all aspects of the Tiger program from 2009-12, helping Wittenberg to four North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) regular season and tournament championships and the 2011 NCAA Division III Tournament title.
“This is an important time in our athletic department history as we start our first new varsity program since 2003, and I could not be happier with our hiring committee’s work and to see Evan emerge as our top candidate,” Williams said. “Evan is a Wittenberg graduate and a former club men’s player, and he has been working under a tremendous coach at Miami in Carolyn Condit, who also mentored Paco.
“Evan will bring to our department and this program a commitment to student success on and off the court. He has already hit the ground running in contacting prospective recruits from some great club programs in the area, and he will do a great job in building this program. I am excited that Evan has accepted this opportunity and look forward to seeing what the future holds for him and our program.”
Amstutz has coached at the youth club level as well, guiding the Dayton Juniors 17 American team to a No. 3 ranking in the Ohio Valley Region in 2013 and the Borderline 16 American team to a No. 11 ranking in the Ohio Valley Region in 2014. In addition, Amstutz has worked numerous camps, including those hosted by the University of Kentucky, Villanova University, Ohio State University, Miami, Wittenberg and Otterbein University, and he has taught private lessons since 2011.
“I appreciate this opportunity to return to Wittenberg and give back to my alma mater,” Amstutz said. “This is a university with a support system in place for all student-athletes that is second to none, and I am truly fortunate to work alongside the rest of Wittenberg’s faculty and staff to promote the overall mission of the university.
“This is a unique opportunity to create a foundation for the men’s volleyball program and to introduce future Tigers to Wittenberg, which is such a tremendous place to learn, grow and compete at the highest level. The Wittenberg Volleyball family is a great one to be a part of, especially with the outstanding example set by Paco, who has taught me so much.”
Wittenberg will open play as a varsity intercollegiate program in January 2016. Amstutz is leading a recruiting effort that will result in the arrival of the Tigers’ first-ever men’s volleyball recruiting class to campus in August 2015.
Written By: Ryan Maurer