Dawn Sullivan has been promoted to associate head volleyball coach and Jenny Kabbes has officially joined the staff as a full-time assistant coach as Illinois State head coach Sharon Dingman, her staff and student-athletes, prepare for the 2004 season.
Although both coaches are young, Dingman sees their skills, experience and energy as unlimited.
You cant measure a persons value in terms of years, said Dingman. But, in the case of both Dawn and Jenny, their commitment, teaching ability, recruiting skills I could go on and on, but the bottom line is that both are young women you want associated with your program.
Dingman recognized that others in college volleyball share her views about Sullivan and Kabbes.
Both have received competitive offers from other well-recognized programs, said Dingman, who is starting her fifth season as Redbird head coach. Im thrilled weve been able to keep our staff together. Their value to this program is almost immeasurable.
Sullivan, starting her third season at Illinois State, was an all-American player at Kansas State. In her first two seasons with the Redbirds, the 26-year-old native of Marshall, Minn., helped the Redbirds to 33 victories against rugged schedules.
Previously, Sullivan played professional volleyball for the Grand Rapids Force, was a student assistant coach at Kansas State and a club coach with Flint Hill Volleyball Club in Kansas.
Kabbes completed a stellar career as a Redbird middle blocker in 2002 and joined Dingmans staff as a graduate assistant shortly afterward. The sister of current Redbird middle blocker Emily Kabbes, she grew up just a few blocks from Redbird Arena and starred at Central Catholic High School in Bloomington before coming to Illinois State.
As a Redbird player, the three-time all-Missouri Valley Conference selection rebounded from two shoulder surgeries to finish her career as the No. 2 blocker in Redbird history and No. 6 in Valley history. Kabbes has a bachelors degree in a business and a masters degree in kinesiology and recreation, both from Illinois State.
The Redbirds, who finished 19-14 last season after a 5-10 start, open the 2004 season Sept. 1 at Illinois before hosting Iowa, Denver and Wright State in the 2004 Barker GMC Classic Sept. 3-4 in Redbird Arena.
