June 3, 2004

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Angela Rock - a 1988 Olympian and one of the most successful players in beach volleyball history - has joined the UC Santa Barbara women's volleyball team as an assistant coach, head coach Kathy Gregory announced Thursday.

She will begin her appointment at UCSB on July 1. Rock fills a void left by the departure of associate head coach Liz-Towne Gilbert, who accepted a similar position at USC in mid-April after two seasons with the Gauchos.

"Adding somebody of Angela's caliber, with her impressive credentials, is a great asset to UCSB," Gregory said. "She brings instant credibility to our program and will be a great role model for our players. Angela will help us with all facets of training - working primarily with the outside hitters - as well as recruiting and improving our fund-raising and booster activities"

Most recently, Rock served as associate head coach at San Diego City College for the past two seasons, helping the City Knights record their highest-ever conference finish of fourth in 2003. At the NCAA level, she spent the 1999 season as the head coach at Division II Alaska-Fairbanks, guiding the Nanooks to a 13-11 overall mark and setting a new school record for Pacific-West Conference victories. Rock began her collegiate coaching career as a volunteer assistant at the University of San Diego in 1995. In addition, Rock gained over five years experience as a club coach with the Rancho Santa Fe, Surf and Coast Volleyball Clubs, all in her hometown of San Diego.

From 1987 to 2000, Rock established herself as a major force on both the Women's Professional Volleyball Association (WPVA) and Federation de International Volleyball (FIVB) tours. She ranks third in WPVA history in career earnings and won 21 events, including 12 titles in 1991 when she was voted the tour's "Best Hitter". The previous year, Rock coaxed Gregory out of retirement as the two partnered for a tournament in Laguna Beach, Calif. In addition, she served as a player representative to the governing bodies for both the FIVB and WPVA.

The highlight of Rock's international career was playing outside hitter for Team USA at the 1998 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea, where the Americans placed seventh. During her four years as a member of the United States National Team, Rock also participated in the 1986 Goodwill Games and World Championships as well as the 1987 Pan American Games. She was named Team USA's "Most Valuable Player" in 1985. Rock returned to the Olympics in 1996 as the coach and trainer for American beach volleyball duo Holly McPeak and Nancy Reno.

Collegiately, Rock played on NCAA Final Four teams at San Diego State in 1981 and 1982 before earning First Team All-American recognition in 1984. Rock - who also competed in track and field for the Aztecs as a javelin thrower - was inducted into the SDSU Hall of Fame in 1991. She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from San Diego State before completing an M.S. in education from National University.

"It's a privilege to become part of such a tradition-rich program and finally work with Kathy after being a friend and fan of hers for so many years," Rock said. "UCSB is a beautiful campus, and I'm thrilled to call it my new workplace as I help the Gauchos in their quest to remain among the nation's elite teams."