Sally Polhamus Assistant Coach Second Year at Florida Xavier ‘97

Former Xavier standout and Winthrop head coach Sally Polhamus enters her second season as an assistant volleyball coach at the University of Florida.

Polhamus serves as the squad’s offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator, and is involved in all aspects of the program.

In 2012, the Florida offense led the nation in hitting efficiency (.309) in its first year under Polhamus, as all six starting hitters hit above .275, with four offensive weapons above .300. Sophomore Chloe Mann hit .500 in 2011, setting a new program record for single-season hitting percentage. In recruiting, the Gators welcome six freshmen in 2012, as well as a new setter in Louisville transfer Taylor Brauneis.

Polhamus spent four seasons as the head coach at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., where she compiled a career record of 64-59, including an impressive 39-21 mark in Big South Conference play. During that time, her team claimed a share of the 2007 Big South Conference regular-season championship and produced two Big South Players of the Year. In just four seasons at the helm, Polhamus already ranks third all-time in career victories at Winthrop with 64.

Polhamus served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Georgia Tech from 2002-2006, where she helped the Yellow Jackets to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including a trip to the NCAA Regional Finals in 2003 and another to the NCAA Regional Semifinals in 2004. Georgia Tech claimed two ACC regular-season titles (2003, 2004) and one ACC Tournament Championship (2002) during her tenure.

At Georgia Tech, Polhamus assisted in the development of the team’s outside hitters, while also serving as the Yellow Jackets’ defensive coordinator. During her time in Atlanta, two of her outside hitters earned All-America honors, including Lynnette Moster, who was a three-time All-American from 2002-04.

As the squad’s recruiting coordinator, Polhamus signed five of the top recruiting classes in the Atlantic Coast Conference, including the 2004 class that was rated as high as No. 8 nationally by PrepVolleyball.com.

A member of the 2005 Hall of Fame Class at Xavier University, Polhamus was a four-year letterwinner for the Musketeers from 1993-96. She earned All-Midwestern Collegiate Conference honors in 1993 and 1994 and was a first-team All-Atlantic 10 selection in 1995 and 1996. She finished her career as the Musketeers’ career kills leader (1,749) and ranked second in career digs (1,338). She was the first volleyball player ever to be inducted into her alma mater’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

Polhamus graduated from Xavier in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education. She earned her master’s in educational administration from Dayton in 1999, where she spent three years as the team’s assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.

Prior to joining the staff at Georgia Tech, Polhamus was an assistant coach at Indiana for two seasons.

Polhamus is a member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association, for which she served as the Big South’s representative on the Head Coaches Committee and the NCAA Regional Committee.

Polhamus, a native of Fort Wright, Ky., is married to Stephen Polhamus.

Polhamus At A Glance

Hometown: Fort Wright, Ky.

Family: Husband, Stephen

Education

• Bachelor’s in Health and Physical Education, Xavier (1997)
• Master’s in Educational Administration, Dayton (1999)

Coaching Career

• Dayton: Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, 1997-99
• Indiana: Assistant Coach, 2000-01
• Georgia Tech: Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, 2002-06
• Winthrop: Head Coach, 2007-2011
• Florida: Assistant Coach, 2011-present

Head Coaching Record: 64-59 (.520), 4 seasons

Playing Career: Xavier, 1993-96