Kevin Hambly

Background

Hambly was born in Granada Hills, California, and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation, Sport, and Tourism with an emphasis in sports management in 2006.

Career

Coaching his first team to a 26-6 record, he has reached at least the Sweet Sixteen or better in each of his team"s appearances at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament. Hambly played high school volleyball at Royal High School in Simi Valley, California, where he was named an All-American his senior year. He also played basketball at Royal High School and was named all-league.

He continued his career at Brigham Young University from 1992 to 1995, where he started from 1993 to 1995.

Hambly was named Third-Team All-American during his junior season and First-Team All-American during his senior season. Hambly holds the Brigham Young University school record for solo blocks in a game, which he set with five against Ball State his freshman year.

Following his time at Brigham Young University, Hambly played professional volleyball with Montpellier Université Club in Montpellier, France, during the 1995-1996 season. Hambly started coaching at the Highline Volleyball Club in Northridge, California, where he served as the head coach of the 16 and under teams from 1995 to 1997.

Following his time with the Highline Volleyball Club, Hambly joined the University of Nevada, Las Vegas coaching staff as an assistant coach.

During his time at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, he also founded the Rebel volleyball club in Las Vegas as well as the men"s club volleyball team at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In 2001, Hambly left University of Nevada, Las Vegas to become the assistant United States of America national volleyball team, where also served as the head coach of the United States of America Women"s National Training Team. The Illinois Years

In 2004, Hambly came to the University of Illinois as an assistant coach under Don Hardin. After five years as an assistant coach, Hambly was named the head coach in January 2009.

As both an assistant and head coach, Hambly has proven himself to be one of the premier recruiters in college volleyball, securing the sixth-ranked recruiting class in 2007 and the seventh-ranked class in 2010.

His first season as head coach saw Illinois place second in the Big Ten Conference and reach the third round of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Volleyball Tournament. In his second year as head coach of the Fighting Illini, he guided the team to the sweet sixteen yet again, despite some major injuries suffered by key players during the season.

Following the season, Hambly continued his tradition of successful recruiting by securing the third-ranked recruiting class in the nation. Both Volleyball Magazine (VBM) and AVCA polls ranked his team at #1 for four weeks.

Later, during the semifinals of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament, he coached his squad to victory in one of the most memorable matches in school history with an upset over #1 ranked University of Southern California"s Women of Troy.

Honors

2011 National Coach of the Year by Volleyball Magazine.

Achievements

• 2011 National Coach of the Year by Volleyball Magazine.

Views

In the 2011 season, his third year as head coach, Hambly"s Fighting Illini swept the season series with four-time defending national champions Penn State.