STORM LAKE, Iowa (March 13, 2022) – Buena Vista University director of athletics, Scott Brown, has announced the hiring of Will Baumann as the university's next head volleyball coach.  Baumann will begin his duties on Monday, March 14.
 
Baumann, who is a 2004 graduate of Buena Vista, has established himself as one of the most successful young volleyball coaches in the state of Iowa.  From 2006-13, he was head coach and a physical education instructor at Tripoli, where his teams qualified for seven state tournaments and captured five straight state championships from 2008-12.  Baumann was named the 1A Coach of the Year each of those seasons and was also named the 2012 National Federation of High Schools Iowa Volleyball Coach of the Year.
 
Following his strong tenure with Tripoli, Baumann moved on and served as physical education instructor and head volleyball coach at Nevada Community School. He posted an overall record of 71-19 from 2014-16 which included a 3A State Championship in 2015 and a state semifinal berth in 2014.  He was named the 2015 3A Coach of the Year and was a 2014 Finalist for National Coach of the Year.
 
"Will is unquestionably a great volleyball mind and will add immediate value to our program in that regard," says Brown.  "His relationships in the volleyball community both locally and throughout the state of Iowa and region, combined with his familiarity with BVU are tremendous assets to our campus and our community.  I look forward to working with Will to continue to enhance our student-athlete experience."
 
Baumann got his coaching career started while working on his undergraduate degree in Exercise Science at BVU.  He was an assistant coach in 2001-02 at Schaller-Crestland High School before being named head coach at Galva-Holstein in 2003. He led the Pirates to a 38-8-1 overall record that season and a spot in the state tournament semifinals.
 
In 2016, while serving as head coach at Cherokee Washington High School, Baumann doubled up and was a part-time assistant coach at BVU.
 
"I want to thank the athletic administration, search committee and the BVU community for this opportunity," says Baumann.  "Coaching at the collegiate level has always been a professional goal.  Getting the chance to do so at Buena Vista makes things come full circle for me, personally.  I look forward to building relationships with current student-athletes and setting a foundation for our volleyball program that will put all those involved on a successful trajectory for life.  I am excited to be part of making Buena Vista University the place to be."
 
Baumann has been a physical education instructor at Clarinda Community School since 2017 and served as head volleyball coach in 2017-18 where he was named the 2018 Coach and AD Magazine 40 under 40 Award Winner.
 
Since stepping away from the coaching ranks in 2018, Baumann has established his own personal business 'Champions Approach'.  In this business, he personally delivers instructional camps throughout the state of Iowa and works with coaches and athletes to optimize their potential.  In just four years of existence, Baumann has worked with five championship teams and over 20 state tournament qualifying teams.
 
"I could not be more pleased with Will's desire to be at BVU and for his dedication to building a unique and special experience for our student-athletes," adds Brown.
 
To complete the staff, a national search is underway for a full-time assistant coach.