Cal Poly Pomona Athletics

While it might not be so that Rosie Wegrich was born with a volleyball in her hands, one thing is certain -- the Southern California native has dedicated her entire professional career to the sport of college volleyball. She enters her 43rd season at the collegiate level this fall and is the dean of the Cal Poly Pomona coaching staff with 2018 marking her 27th season as a Bronco.

Tradition, success and pride are evident when it comes to Wegrich and Cal Poly Pomona volleyball. In her time at CPP, she has guided nine teams to the NCAA Tournament (1992-94, 1996-97, 2004-05 and 2007-08) and compiled 427 victories. During her reign, the Broncos have been honored with nine All-America awards, 18 all-region awards and 68 All-CCAA awards.

Wegrich came to Pomona after a 17-year tenure at the NCAA Division I ranks. A winner from the beginning, Wegrich led the University of Minnesota to a 71-30-1 record in two years (1975-76) before heading to the University of Arizona for the next 15 years (1977-91). Under Wegrich’s tutelage, the Arizona volleyball team made 12 trips to post-season play, including a string of nine consecutive berths to the NCAA Tournament. After taking nationally-ranked (16th) Arizona to the post-season tournament for the 11th time in 1989, she was named the Northwest Region Coach of the Year by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. While at Arizona, she amassed a 258-229-9 record.

Wegrich has coached two former United States National and Olympic team members, Melissa McLinden and Caren Kemner, two Canadian National team members as well as seven All-Americans.

As a player, Wegrich competed collegiately for San Diego State where she captained the Aztecs. She also represented the USA in competition against Mexico and Canada and then embarked on a distinguished six-year career in the International Volleyball Association. A three-time recipient of the IVA’s Most Valuable Female Player Award (1977, 1978, 1979), Wegrich also was a member of the league’s All-Pro team for four years (1976-79).

She earned her bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from the UCLA in 1975 and completed her master’s degree at the University of Arizona in 1992.

One of the nation’s most respected coaches, Wegrich is active on the camp and clinic circuit. Over the past several years, she has made presentations at the National Coaches’ Clinic and the Colorado Springs Volleyball Camp. She also coached the South Team in the 1983 Volleyball Festival to a silver medal. Most recently, Wegrich was a featured coach in the Sports Imports publication. Wegrich has also attended the Daiei Japanese Club team practices and utilizes this style in her coaching technique. 

During the summer of 2005, Wegrich was honored with a plaque on the Manhattan Beach Volleyball Walk of Fame. The plaque commemorated the 1970 doubles championship Wegrich won in a beach volleyball tournament with partner Christy Hahn.

 * - Denotes NCAA Division II Tournament participant