University of Connecticut Athletics
Women's Volleyball
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- ellen.herman@uconn.edu
Ellen Herman-Kimball was formally named head coach of the UConn women's volleyball program after serving as the interim head coach since February, 2019. Prior to her time as the interim head coach, Kimball served as an assistant coach with the Huskies for five seasons.
"I am grateful for the opportunity to lead such an outstanding group of student-athletes, Kimball said. "I want to thank director of athletics David Benedict and Kris Grunwald for believing in me and I know the team we have in place for 2019 will make UConn Nation proud!"
"Ellen is a fantastic, energetic coach that possesses a blend of collegiate and professional playing and coaching experience," Benedict said. "Since her arrival back in Storrs for her second stint as an assistant coach, she has positively impacted all aspects of our program. We look forward to her leading this program into the future."Â
Coach Herman-Kimball elevated the UConn women's volleyball program to new heights in 2024, the team's first season in the newly rennovated and state-of-the-art UConn Volleyball Center. In the first season at the UVC, the Huskies controlled home court, notching a 14-1 record in Storrs. Under Coach Herman-Kimball's direction, the Huskies tied a single-season program record with 26 wins, finishing with a 26-8 record overall. Coach Herman-Kimball led UConn to their best start in program history, going 12-0 to start the 2024 season. Coach Herman-Kimball guided the Huskies to the 2024 BIG EAST Tournament and to 12 BIG EAST victories in the regular season, finishing third in the conference standings. Coach Herman-Kimball and the Huskies made a deep run into the postseason, making the 2024 NIVC Great 8. In 2024, McKenna Brand was named the BIG EAST Co-Freshman of the Year. Doga Kutlu, Emma Werkmeister, and Taylor Pannell were all named to the all-BIG EAST team under Coach Herman-Kimball's direction.Â
In the 2022 season, Herman-Kimball guided the women’s volleyball program to strong results in the fourth season at the helm. UConn made it to the BIG EAST semifinals after capturing 10 BIG EAST victories in the regular season and finishing fifth in the conference standings. Â
Herman-Kimball also guided All-BIG EAST selection winner Caylee Parker, who finished second all-time in UConn program history with 1,621 assists and surpassing 1,000 career digs. Also, Herman-Kimball saw Karly Berkland surpass 1,000 career digs and Madi Whitmire surpass 1,000 career assists.Â
Herman-Kimball guided UConn to one of its best seasons in program history in her third season at the helm in 2021. The Huskies went 24-11 overall with a 13-5 mark in BIG EAST contests. The 13 BIG EAST victories were UConn's most in program history, while its 24 total wins were its most since the 1995 campaign. Furthermore, the Huskies defeated a ranked opponent for the first time in taking down No. 19 Creighton in five sets.
The Huskies continued their historic season in the postseason, making their second straight trip to the BIG EAST Championship, and made their first NIVC appearance since 1994. UConn hosted a postseason match in Gampel Pavilion for the first time, where it defeated North Florida in four sets to advance to the NIVC Final Four.
Herman-Kimball coach three Huskies to be named to the 2021 All-BIG EAST Team and guided McKayla Wuensch to be named the program's first BIG EAST Setter of the Year.
In her second season at the helm, Herman-Kimball led the Huskies back to the BIG EAST Championship after a 4-4 conference clip in a shortened 2021 spring season.
Prior to being named head coach, Herman-Kimball rejoined UConn in 2014 as an assistant coach after also serving as an assistant in 2011.
The Toledo, Ohio native played professionally with Sagres NUC, one of the top teams in the LNA, the top professional league in Switzerland. During the 2011-2012 season, she was match MVP three times, and helped out the Neuchatel, Switzerland club to finish second in the league. Sagres also reached the Swiss Cup final and the quarterfinals of the CEV Challenge Cup, a European-wide championship. Returning to Neuchatel the following season, she was awarded match MVP five times and the team finished third place in the LNA.
In 2010, she competed for VT Aurubis Hamburg, a member of Germany's 14-team premier league, the Bundesliga. During her brief stint in Germany, she received MVP honors during two matches.
Prior to her professional career, Herman-Kimball trained with the U.S. National Team during the summer of 2009 and competed with the U.S. National Team on their Tour of China during February of 2010. She also competed with the U.S. A2 Team, earning Most Valuable Player honors at the Adult Open Championship in 2008.
Herman-Kimball , a two-time All-American, led the Bobcats to four successful seasons during her collegiate career, including three Mid American Conference regular season championships, three MAC tournament championships and four NCAA tournament berths. She was named the MAC Player of the Year as a junior and senior and also earned MAC Freshman of the Year accolades during her rookie campaign. The four-time first team All-MAC selection left Ohio University as the OU and MAC all-time leader in kills, as well as OU's all-time leader in points and attacks.
Herman-Kimball , who earned Academic All-MAC honors three times during her collegiate career, graduated with a Bachelor of Health Administration from Ohio University in June 2010. She was inducted into the MAC Hall of Fame in 2020.
