Sheila A. Gisbrecht
Office Phone: (413)-265-2378
Office E-mail: gisbrechts@elms.edu

Sheila Gisbrecht enters her third season as the head men and women’s volleyball coach and brings more than 15 years of collegiate coaching and playing experience to her position.

Last season, the women’s volleyball team won five of its final six regular season matches to earn the fourth seed in the 2009 New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Championship tournament, and defeated Mitchell College in the quarterfinal round to advance to the tournament semifinals. The squad also had three players named All-NECC.

In 2010, the men’s program continued to grow under the direction of Coach Gisbrecht. The Blazers competed against seven teams that finished in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III Top 15 poll and had three players receive All-NECC honors including the league’s Rookie of the Year.

In her first season as the head coach of Elms' volleyball programs, Coach Gisbrecht was named NECC Men's Volleyball Coach of the Year after leading the Blazers to a 7-1 conference record and inaugural NECC Championship. Six players also received NECC All-Conference honors including the Player and Rookie of the Year.

In North East Collegiate Volleyball Association (NECVA) play, Coach Gisbrecht led the Blazers to an 11-3 conference record and a program-best 20-13 record. The Blazers finished the 2009 season by winning the college's first-ever Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship.

Prior to Elms College, Coach Gisbrecht served as the assistant coach of Ohio Wesleyan University's women's volleyball program for 11 seasons. During Coach Gisbrecht's tenure, the Battling Bishops posted five 20-plus win seasons.

Coach Gisbrecht's collegiate and professional playing credentials are equally impressive. During her collegiate career, she was a four-year volleyball letter winner at Ohio Wesleyan, a three-time All-North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) selection, and she capped her career by earning NCAC Player of the Year honors as a senior in 1994.

Also a four-year track and field letter winner for the Battling Bishops, Coach Gisbrecht was a two-time NCAA All-American as well as an Academic All-American. In 2005, she was inducted into Ohio Wesleyan's Athletics Hall of Fame.

Coach Gisbrecht earned her bachelor's degree with a teaching certification from Ohio Wesleyan and received her master's degree in exercise and sports studies at Smith College.