March 3, 2005
NORMAL, Ill. -
With a myriad of experiences coaching college women, college men, high school and club volleyball, Illinois native Rob Beam is coming back to his home state as an assistant volleyball coach at Illinois State University on the staff of veteran head coach Sharon Dingman.
The 1992 Glenbrook South High School graduate was the 1996 Clark College Athlete of the Year while captaining the volleyball team. While completing his bachelor's degree in philosophy in 1996, he coached high school volleyball at Dubuque Senior High School. He has club experience with Adversity Volleyball Club and Dayton Juniors, where his 2002 Blue Angels 17 team took third in the Open Division at the Junior Olympic National Championships. He also wrote and developed "Master Coach" strategies for Dayton Juniors.
Beam was an assistant for both men's and women's volleyball at Quincy University in 1999-2000 before joining the Wright State staff the following year. He was Wright State's associate head coach the past two seasons.
Dingman is glad the 10-year coaching veteran was interested in returning to his home state.
"His work ethic, knowledge and teaching ability will facilitate our efforts in the gym and in recruiting," said Dingman. "He is familiar with many of our players and recruits already. That will make it a smooth transition."
Beam agrees, but his respect for Dingman and Illinois State are key factors.
"I met Sharon at my first AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) Convention and I've learned that she is a great coach, a wonderful mentor and an outstanding person," said Beam. "At Illinois State, volleyball has a high profile in the community and in volleyball. My home is the Chicago area, and I enjoy some recruiting connections there. It's going to be nice to be close to home working with Sharon Dingman in a quality program like Illinois State."
While Beam has earned high reviews as a recruiter, scout, administrator and strategist, his work to help players improve defensively stands out. During Beam's five seasons at Wright State, the Raiders ranked in the top 15 nationally in digs per game three times: seventh in 2003, eighth in 2001 and 15th in 2002. Illinois State has been in the lower half of the Missouri Valley Conference in digs the past three seasons and Dingman believes Beam can help the Redbirds increase their productivity in the back row.
Despite 41 victories and one of the league's top offensive teams over the past two seasons, the Redbirds have fallen short of an NCAA Tournament at-large bid both years. Dingman believes better defense could be the key to getting over that hump and into the tournament.
"I think Rob's experience and expertise with back-row defense will really help our team improve," said Dingman, beginning her 15th season as a Division I college head coach and her sixth at Illinois State. "That improvement could make the difference between finishing close, and winning a Valley championship."
Beam takes the staff spot vacated by Dawn Sullivan, who is now associate head coach at Iowa State. He joins Dingman and former Redbird star player Jenny Kabbes, now in her third season as an assistant coach, on the Redbird volleyball staff.
