SatuThe University of Minnesota Women's Athletics Department announced today that Kim Kumfer has accepted the position of assistant volleyball coach for the Golden Gophers. Kumfer's duties will begin Saturday, Feb. 10. Kumfer will serve as the program's recruiting coordinator. She will also assist with the training of players, game planning, and tactics.

Kumfer is a 1994 graduate of Penn State University, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in exercise and sports science, and a 1996 graduate of the University of San Francisco, where she graduated with a master's degree in sports and fitness management. Kumfer has been a full-time assistant coach for the past five seasons at American University and the University of San Francisco. She was the assistant coach at American University from 1996-99, helping improve the team's winning percentage and developing a recruiting system for the program. Kumfer was the top assistant coach at Pittsburgh for the 2000 season, serving as the recruiting coordinator and travel coordinator for the program. She was a four-year letterwinner in volleyball at Penn State, and is the school's all-time leader in digs.

"Kim Kumfer is one of the young superstars ascending the coaching ranks," said Minnesota head coach Mike Hebert. "Her outstanding playing career at Penn State, coupled with five years as a Division I coach and recruiter make her uniquely qualified to take on this position with Gopher volleyball. I think we have hit a home run in hiring Kim Kumfer."

The 2000 Minnesota volleyball team finished 30-4, its best overall record in school history, and earned second place in the Big Ten Conference with a 17-3 mark. The team advanced to the NCAA "Sweet Sixteen" for the second straight year and the fourth time in school history.