Volleyball | 12/4/2018 2:30:00 PM

POMONA -- Cal Poly Pomona Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Brian Swanson announced Tuesday that associate head volleyball coach Traci Dahl has been named acting head coach for the CPP volleyball program effective January 2, 2019.  Dahl will step in for longtime head coach Rosie Wegrich, who officially retires on December 20 after 27 seasons as the head coach for the Broncos.

Recently completing her second season as the associate head coach on the CPP sidelines, Dahl helped lead the Broncos to one of the best seasons in program history, finishing with a 24-6 overall record and making CPP's first appearance in the NCAA tournament in 10 years.

"I want to thank Brian Swanson, Stephanie Duke, and the University administration for this tremendous opportunity to lead the women's volleyball program," said Dahl. "The future of Cal Poly Pomona volleyball is bright and I look forward to continuing the success that Rosie Wegrich has had here over her long, successful career. I want to especially thank Rosie for giving me the opportunity to become a Bronco. She has impacted so many young women over the years, and working with her has made me a better coach and person. I wish her nothing but the best in her retirement."

Dahl will take over for Wegrich, a legendary AVCA Hall of Fame coach that compiled 780 victories spanning a 44-year career with stops at the University of Minnesota (1975-76) and the University of Arizona (1977-91) before settling in at Cal Poly Pomona from 1992 on.  Her 780 victories are 31st all-time in NCAA volleyball history across all three divisions.  In 27 years on the Broncos sidelines, Wegrich went 451-333, a winning percentage of .575, with 10 NCAA tournament appearances and was a two-time CCAA Coach of the Year, including her final season this fall in 2018 when she, with the help of Dahl, led CPP to the most wins in a season since 2005 and the first NCAA tournament since 2008.

"Traci has been instrumental in the recent resurgence of Broncos volleyball," Swanson said. "Her positive and professional 'team first' approach into developing and mentoring our student-athletes fits our department philosophy. I look forward to working with Coach Dahl to move our program forward."

When the 2019 season opens next fall, the Broncos expect to return 10 letter-winning underclassmen, including freshman All-American setter Kira Zimmerman.  Zimmerman was second in the CCAA (and 17th nationally) in assists per set (11.40) and total assists (1,140) and set an offense that torched opponents for a conference-best 14.60 kills per set (also the seventh-best output in Division II) and a .253 hitting percentage.

"CPP volleyball is coming off one of the best years in program history and I am looking forward to the future success of the program," added Dahl. "Academically and athletically, the student-athletes are committed more than ever to succeed. This season was amazing on all levels and I am confident that we are going to build on the successes of this year for the future."

Dahl came to Cal Poly Pomona just prior to the 2017 campaign after nine successful seasons as the head coach at NCAA Division I Indiana State University from 2008 to 2016 where she led the Sycamores to unprecedented success both on and off the court.  Prior to her departure from ISU, her squad received their 19th-straight AVCA Team Academic Award, the longest streak in NCAA history, for having a cumulative team GPA of 3.3 or higher.  On the court, the Sycamores posted back-to-back winning seasons in 2014 and 2015 and Dahl became the winningest head coach in the 41-year history of Indiana State volleyball, finishing with 101 victories during her nine-year tenure with the program. The Sycamores advanced to the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in both 2011 and 2014.
 
Dahl has a strong history in the Southern California area, spending three years as an assistant coach and Kinesiology professor at Cal State Fullerton. Prior to that, she served as an assistant coach at Cerritos Community College. During her collegiate playing career at Long Beach State, Dahl was a First Team All-Big West Conference selection in 1994 and a Second Team AVCA All-American. In the 1993 season, Dahl was a part of the 49ers National Championship team.
 
Dahl earned her Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education from Long Beach State before obtaining her Master's Degree in Education from National University and a second Master's Degree in Recreation and Sport Management from Indiana State.

TRANSACTION:  Traci Dahl named acting head coach for the Cal Poly Pomona women's volleyball team, effective January 2, 2019.