Sports

Actions

Johnna Fouce Chosen to Lead EKU Volleyball Program

Posted at 7:06 PM, Dec 17, 2018
and last updated 2018-12-17 19:06:52-05
EKU Athletics

RICHMOND, Ky. – Johnna Fouch, an honorable mention All-American and two-time Mountain West Conference Setter of the Year, was chosen as Eastern Kentucky University’s new volleyball head coach, Director of Athletics Stephen Lochmueller announced today.

In addition to her stellar playing career, Fouch has five years of collegiate coaching experience and two years of experience coaching youth volleyball players throughout Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee and North Carolina.

Fouch will also serve as the head coach of EKU’s beach volleyball team.

“We are excited to have Johnna as our new volleyball head coach,” Lochmueller said.  “Johnna has an appreciation for the history of our program, but it is her vision for the future of our program that has impressed me throughout the process.  She understands what it will take to return Colonel volleyball to the top of the Ohio Valley Conference.”

The Redlands, California native first joined the Eastern Kentucky program as a graduate assistant in 2014.  She served as a full time assistant since the 2015 season.  When the university announced the addition of beach volleyball in September, Fouch was named the interim head coach.

“I want to thank Director of Athletics Stephen Lochmueller and his staff for this opportunity to lead the Eastern Kentucky University volleyball program,” said Fouch.  “I am truly honored and excited to be chosen as the program’s third head coach, and plan to build on the legacy that coach Geri Polvino and coach Lori Duncan have establish here the last 53 years. Go Colonels!”

In her first season with the Colonels, she helped the team to their first 20-win campaign since 2005 and a third place finish in the Ohio Valley Conference.  Fouch recruited and tutored setter Rachel Woody, the 2016 OVC Freshman of the Year who finished tied for seventh in the nation in triple-doubles.

As an assistant, Fouch’s responsibilities included recruiting, scouting, video exchange, and on the court coaching, including working specifically with the team’s setters.  In her five seasons on staff, she coached seven all-conference selections, helped the Colonels finish in the top four in the OVC twice and helped the team to four conference tournament appearances.

Since the summer of 2017, Fouch coached young players throughout the region with the All-American Volleyball Camps.

“Johnna and I share a similar philosophy,” said Lochmueller.  “In order for EKU to be successful, this program must be a factor in recruiting the best volleyball players the Commonwealth of Kentucky has to offer.  I know Johnna will work diligently to put EKU on the minds of the most talented young players throughout the region.  Colonel volleyball carries a strong reputation throughout the nation, but our future OVC Championship teams will be built around players from right here in Kentucky.”

At San Diego State University, Fouch was a two-time All-Mountain West Conference selection and was chosen as the league’s setter of the year twice.  Following her junior season, Fouch earned honorable mention All-America honors and was an All-West Region selection by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).

She led the Mountain West Conference in assists (11.84 per set) as a sophomore and finished third as a junior (10.88 per set).  Fouch helped San Diego State capture the 2012 conference championship and earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament.  She was chosen as the team MVP as a sophomore and a senior.

After her senior season at San Diego State, Fouch was selected to participate in the European Global Challenge with the Mountain West All-Star Team.  The squad captured the bronze medal at the event.

Fouch received a bachelor’s of arts in communication from SDSU in 2014 and master’s of science in sport administration from Eastern Kentucky in 2016.