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UW-SP announces new coaches
WHITE NAMED VOLLEYBALL COACH: Stacey
White, a former four-year letterwinner at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls has been named the head volleyball
coach at UW-Stevens Point.
White, 26, played at UW-River Falls from 1993-97 and replaces Kelly Geiger, who
resigned after three seasons to spend more time with her family.
"By playing in the conference, I know a lot about the tradition of the teams
and how tough this league is," said White, who is the 10th coach in Pointer volleyball history. "It'll
be a challenge, but the players and staff really seem excited about the direction the program is heading."
White, a Monticello, Minn., native spent the past season as the head junior varsity
coach and assistant varsity coach at Concordia University in St. Paul, Minn. She graduated from UW-River Falls
in 1998 with a degree in health and human performance and added a master's degree in kinesiology from the University
of Minnesota while coaching at Concordia.
"Stacey brings a lot of experience in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and particularly,
the WIAC," UW-SP athletics director Frank O'Brien said. "She understands the level of play in this conference
and we're very pleased she will be joining our staff."
White has coached two junior Olympic squads and was a track and field standout
at UW-River Falls, qualifying for the NCAA Division III outdoor championships in both the shot put and discus as
a senior.
White takes over a Pointer squad that finished 12-22 last season and eighth in
the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Under Geiger, the Pointers were 47-57, including a 21-12 mark
in her first season, marking the most winning first season of any UW-Stevens Point coach.
Geiger also was an assistant coach with the Pointers for four seasons prior to taking over the head coaching position.
"We wish Kelly the best of luck and appreciate the seven years of service
to our program," O'Brien said. "We're happy she's remaining in the community and will continue to be
a resource."
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IDALSKI NAMED INTERIM WOMEN'S HOCKEY COACH: Former
UW-Stevens Point men's hockey player Brian Idalski has been named the interim head coach of the Pointer women's
ice hockey program.
Idalski replaces Jason Lesteberg, who was named the head coach at Division I Bemidji
State, despite spending just one year at UW-SP and guiding the Pointers to a 13-13-1 record in their inaugural
varsity season.
Idalski was a defenseman for the Pointers from 1992-95 and posted five goals and
20 assists in 97 career games. He played and coached with the Columbus (Ohio) Cottonmouths of the Central Hockey
League following his playing career with the Pointers. Idalski returned to UW-SP as an assistant coach with the
Pointers' men's team last season.
"We're extremely pleased that someone with Brian's qualifications was available,"
O'Brien said. "Brian has a quality coaching background and has been a Pointer for the past decade. We're glad
he'll be back with us again next season."
Lesteberg was the first-ever Northern Collegiate Hockey Association Coach of the
Year last season after leading a first-year Pointer squad that had just 15 players and none with any collegiate
hockey experience. UW-SP finished third of five teams in the NCHA and was 11-0-1 againsT other first-year programs.
"These opportunities come few and far between," O'Brien said of Lesteberg's
move to Division I. "We wish Jason luck in Bemidji and are grateful of the outstanding job he did elevating
our women's squad from club status to varsity."
Bemidji State is in its fourth season of varsity women's hockey. Lesteberg replaces three-year coach Ruthann Cantile,
who resigned after posting a 26-62-3 record. The Beavers play in the prestigious Western Collegiate Hockey Association,
which includes the University of Wisconsin and defending national
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