Baker Brings In UAlbany Standout To Fill Top Assistant Role
Colgate volleyball head coach Ryan Baker has announced the hiring of Traci Vandegrift as his top assistant coach. The former UAlbany player and assistant coach begins her duties immediately.
Vandegrift spent the last five years on the UAlbany volleyball staff, serving as an assistant coach from 2015-17 after a two-year stint as the team’s graduate assistant manager/director of operations. She was a four-year letterwinner for the Great Danes from 2009-13.
“I’m so excited to have Traci join our staff,” said Baker. “Traci is one of the up and coming coaches in the industry and we are so lucky to have her here. She has a real passion for coaching with an intense work ethic. Our players will grow tremendously under her mentorship.”
Vandegrift guided the Great Danes to 63 wins and a 47-15 record in the America East throughout her five years as a member of the UAlbany coaching staff. She helped UAlbany to a 2017 regular-season America East championship and a pair of tournament championship game appearances in 2015 and 2016.
As a student-athlete at UAlbany, Vandegrift served as a six-rotation player, leading the Great Danes to a pair of America East titles in 2010 and 2011. She tallied 732 kills, 653 digs, 219 total blocks and 48 service aces in her career, earning America East All-Conference Second Team honors in 2012.
“I honestly could not be more excited to be a part of the volleyball program here at Colgate,” said Vandegrift. “Ryan has always had successful, strong minded, talented teams that truly value what it means to be a part of Colgate Athletics. I am honored to be able to help build on the success on and off the court that he has already established.
“I look forward to meeting our current student-athletes as they come back from winter break and getting on the road to help recruit our next class of Raiders. Go ‘gate!”
Vandegrift has also spent time in the club circuit, serving as the head coach of the Legion Volleyball Club from 2010 -16.
She graduated from UAlbany as a double major in History and English in 2013, before earning her Master’s Degree in Secondary Education in 2015.