Stephen F. Austin Director of Athletics Michael McBroom has announced the hiring of Gretchen Hand as head coach of the SFA beach volleyball program. The official announcement was made on Friday, August 22.

“We believe Gretchen is a tremendous fit for SFA and we are fortunate to land a coach with her pedigree,” noted McBroom. “She has the ability to hit the ground running and will have us competing for Southland Conference championships in the near future.”

McBroom added, “She’s a fiery and inspirational competitor who knows what it takes to compete at a high level in Division I Beach volleyball. She believes strongly in relationships, player development, accountability and culture. Her genuine enthusiasm for students and competition is contagious. She will be a great addition to our campus and athletic department.”

Hand is a seasoned leader on the sand with nearly 20 years of experience spanning high school, club, and NCAA Division I levels. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Hand has played a key role in developing collegiate beach volleyball programs at UC Davis, Missouri State, and Webber International.

"With great excitement, I accept the position of Head Beach Volleyball Coach at Stephen F. Austin State University,” remarked Hand. “This is not just a new chapter for me, but a commitment to elevating SFA Beach Volleyball to new heights. I am focused on building a culture of competitiveness, resilience, and positivity that will drive us to be a dominant force within the Southland Conference and across all of NCAA Beach Volleyball. Together, we will create a legacy of excellence that inspires future generations of athletes, and I am eager to take this journey forward with our team, fans, and community. Axe ‘Em Jacks!”

Hand’s other previous collegiate coaching experiences include stints as a recruiter and assistant at Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Mo., as an assistant at Missouri-St Louis. As a coach, she is known for her passion for athlete development and her commitment to growing the sport of beach volleyball within her community.

A former collegiate standout and professional beach volleyball player, Hand competed internationally and earned main-draw finishes on the AVP (American Volleyball Professionals), NVL (National Volleyball League), EVP (Extreme Volleyball Professionals), and FIVB (Fédération Internationale de Volleyball) tours. Her playing career took her across the globe—from Brazil to Thailand—before transitioning to coaching after a career-impacting injury.

Hand holds a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Missouri–St. Louis, where she graduated magna cum laude. She prepped at Hillsboro High School where she was volleyball team captain and earned all-conference, all-district and all-region distinction. She played collegiately at Jefferson College, New Orleans and Missouri-St Louis. As an outside hitter and setter, she garnered all-conference honors in college while serving as a team-captain three of her four years.

Name	Title	Email Address	Twitter
Gretchen Hand	Head Coach	gretchen.hand@sfasu.edu
Daniel Suárez	Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator

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