Bulldogs’ volleyball program head coach Jonathan Winder is returning to his alma mater to coach after four seasons with the team. Associate head coach Abbie Wright is being named the new interim head coach.
Winder was named the eighth head coach in program history on Jan. 23, 2018, and during his four seasons of coaching the team tallied 56 wins. Those 56 wins comprised the second-most victorious four seasons for a head coach in program history.
Winder is set to return to his alma mater Pepperdine, where he started his coaching career.
While attending Pepperdine, Winder was a four-time All-American, 2007 NCAA Player of the Year and 2005 National Champion. He spent six years playing overseas and for Team USA during and after his time in school, serving as an alternate for Team USA at the 2012 London Olympics.
He later went on to be head coach of Washington’s beach volleyball program and assistant coach of the indoor program for three seasons before coming to Fresno State.
Winder’s team brought the Red Wave together, ranking Fresno State second in the Mountain West in average home attendance in 2018. During that time Fresno State was one of four NCAA Division I schools in California averaging over 1,000 fans per match, with a higher home attendance than Pac-12 schools such as Cal and Washington State.
Winder thanked Fresno State upon announcing his resignation, calling it a joy to work with student-athletes and athletic support at Fresno State over the last four years.
“Fresno will always be another hometown for our family, and I hope to continue to help develop the sport in the community for many years to come,” he said.
Wright is now the ninth head coach in program history. She joined the program in February after serving as head coach in Seattle Pacific for five seasons, during which time her team hit 65 wins.
Winder praised the hiring of Wright earlier this year, calling it “a great moment for the ‘Dogs.”
“Abbie came highly regarded by everyone I talked with. She is a leader who can energize a program and develop the student-athletes both on and off the court. She shares our passion for excellence in all parts of our day here at Fresno State,” he said.
Wright considered it an “honor” to work with Winder and his staff, calling them “some of the most knowledgeable and highly regarded in the business.”
Wright, who assumed coach head duties immediately, also got her start coaching at her alma mater, Biola.
During her time there, Biola’s 2015 program reached its first No. 1 national ranking in program history, for which Wright received the AVCA/NAIA Southwest Region and National Assistant Coach of the Year Award. In 2016 she was named on the “30 under 30” list by the American Volleyball Coach Association for top coaches across all levels of the game aged 30 or younger.
During her playing time she set the program records for most matches played at 143, most sets played at 508 and service aces at 182, which she still holds today.
“I’m humbled and grateful to have been considered and be able to move into this role and lead such a quality group of people,” she said. “We have a high caliber of athletes and people returning and joining, who care deeply about representing the Valley with high character – and our focus is on keeping the momentum going.”