Weishoff newest coach for UCI

Paula Weishoff, a three-time Olympian, has been named head coach of the UC Irvine women’s volleyball program, UCI Athletic Director Mike Izzi announced Tuesday.

Weishoff has served the past five seasons as head coach at Concordia University in Irvine. The Eagles won 146 matches during her tenure.

She guided Concordia to the National Assn. of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national finals twice and the semifinals on two other occasions in her five years at the university.

“I’m very excited about this opportunity as UC Irvine has great potential,” Weishoff said. “The university is a strong supporter of the program and I look forward to enhancing the involvement of the students and community.”

Weishoff was named NAIA Coach of the Year this season after leading Concordia to a 31-6 overall record and the national championship match. Two of her players were named to the NAIA All-America first team.

“Paula is highly skilled and motivated,” Izzi said. “She has experienced major success at virtually every level of competition. We look for her to have the UCI program in the upper echelon of the Big West Conference and competing at the NCAA Tournament on a regular basis.”

Weishoff competed for the U.S. Olympic women’s volleyball team in 1984, 1992 and 1996. She won a silver medal and was named Most Valuable Player with the ’84 team in Los Angeles and a bronze at the ‘92 Games in Barcelona where she was voted the MVP of the Olympic Games.

She was part of three Division I national titles at USC – one as a player in 1980 and two as an assistant coach (2002 and 2003). She served on the USC staff from 1997-2004 and was promoted to associate head coach in 2003.

Weishoff was inducted into the USA Volleyball Hall of Fame in 1998 and was named to the USA Volleyball 75th Anniversary All-Era (1978-2002) Team in 2003. She was a 2005 inductee into the USC Hall of Fame.

She competed in professional leagues overseas in Japan, Brazil and Italy. Weishoff was MVP of the Italian League from 1986-89.

A graduate of West Torrance High, she lettered in volleyball, track, soccer and softball. She won a silver medal in volleyball at the 1979 U.S. Olympic Festival and was named MVP at the 1980 U.S. Junior Olympics.

Following her competitive career, Weishoff returned to USC and graduated in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in humanities and a minor in business.

At UCI, Weishoff succeeds Charlie Brande, who retired after nine seasons as the Anteaters’ head coach.

— From staff reports