Traci Vandegrift-Plungas was named to the position of Colgate assistant volleyball coach in January 2018.
Vandegrift-Plungas arrived at Colgate after a five-year stint on the Albany volleyball staff, serving as an assistant coach from 2015-17 after a two-year stint as the team’s graduate assistant manager/director of operations. She was a four-year letterwinner for the Great Danes from 2009-13.
"I'm so excited to have Traci join our staff,” Baker said. “Traci is one of the up-and-coming coaches in the industry and we are so lucky to have her here. She has a real passion for coaching with an intense work ethic. Our players will grow tremendously under her mentorship.”
Vandegrift-Plungas helped the Great Danes to 63 wins and a 47-15 record in the America East Conference throughout her five years as a member of the UAlbany coaching staff. She boosted UAlbany to a 2017 regular-season America East championship and a pair of tournament championship game appearances in 2015 and 2016.
As a student-athlete at UAlbany, Vandegrift-Plungas served as a six-rotation player, leading the Great Danes to a pair of America East titles in 2010 and 2011. She tallied 732 kills, 653 digs, 219 total blocks and 48 service aces in her career, earning All-America East Second Team honors in 2012.
“I honestly could not be more excited to be a part of the volleyball program here at Colgate,” said Vandegrift-Plungas. “Ryan has always had successful, strong minded, talented teams that truly value what it means to be a part of Colgate Athletics. I am honored to be able to help build on the success on and off the court that he has already established."
Vandegrift-Plungas graduated from UAlbany as a double major in History and English in 2013, before earning her master's degree in Secondary Education in 2015. During that time, she spent time on the club circuit, serving as the head coach of the Legion Volleyball Club from 2010-16.
She is married to David Plungas, who is the football defensive coordinator at Robert Morris and a Mentor, Ohio, native.
