Rhonda Faunce to Step Away From Coaching at End of Year, Move into Administrative Role at Elmira
Legendary Coach has Won More than 1,000 Games During Illustrious Career
Since the 1988-89 sports season, the Elmira College women's volleyball sidelines and softball dugout have been occupied by one coach:
Rhonda Faunce. After 31 years at the helm of both programs, Faunce will step aside from coaching duties at the conclusion of the 2018-19 academic year and move into the role of Associate Director of Athletics and Physical Education at Elmira.
"I'm excited for a change," said Faunce. "I'm grateful to Elmira College and
Renee Carlineo for an opportunity to get involved more on the administrative side of things. The student-athletes of Elmira have made my coaching career an amazing experience. I'm thankful for each and every one of them. I will miss the daily interactions with my players, but they aren't getting rid of me completely though, as I will be hanging around the gym and field."
"Coach Faunce has been a pillar of Elmira College athletics for 31 years," stated Carlineo, Elmira's Director of Athletics. "I could not be more excited for Rhonda to bring her energy, talent, and knowledge to our administrative team. She is the type of leader we need touching every aspect of our department and now, as an associate director, she will serve in a broader capacity to help drive growth and development of Soaring Eagle athletics."
Faunce's coaching career began in the fall of 1988, when she stepped into the bench boss role for the women's volleyball program. In her first year with the Soaring Eagles, she turned a 12-win team into a 25-win team that qualified for the New York State Tournament.
That 25-win season set the stage for an illustrious career, one that saw Faunce accumulate 614 career wins. She registered her 600th career win on October 21, 2017, and Faunce currently ranks as the 14th winningest coach among active coaches in Division III women's volleyball.
She guided the Purple and Gold to a trio of 30-win seasons during her career, two of which resulted in NCAA Division III Tournament appearances in 1998 and 1999. Faunce also guided the 2000 iteration of the Soaring Eagles to an NCAA Division III Tournament appearance, a year in which she earned Empire 8 Conference Coach of the Year and American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Northeast Region Co-Coach of the Year
Under her tutelage, a trio of Soaring Eagles were bestowed with All-American status from the AVCA, while two earned CoSIDA Academic All-American honors. Additionally, she has seen her team receive the AVCA Team Academic Award in 13 consecutive seasons.
1989 Elmira College Softball Team (Faunce's First Season)
As the head coach of the softball program, a role Faunce took over in the spring of 1989, she has amassed a program-record 401 victories. Prior to her start, the softball team had not recorded double-digit wins, but in her second season at the helm, EC went 14-8 and registered the program's first-ever winning season. Just one year later, Elmira went on to produce a 25-8 record, a mark that is still tied for the most wins in the program's 41-year history.
During her tenure, 41 players have earned Empire 8 All-Conference honors. She has also coached several All-State selections, a NYSWCAA scholar-athlete, and one Academic All-American.
Along with her accolades in volleyball in 2000, Faunce was presented with the prestigious NYSWCAA Service Award for outstanding contributions to New York State Women's Intercollegiate Athletics.
"Coach Faunce has been a true motivator for me in both coaching and real life," said dual-sport student-athlete
Sam Chadbourne '19. "She's taught me so much about how to be a good teammate and overall civilian. Her personality changes the mood of a room when she's in it because of her big smile and loud laugh. She is the person I know I can go to when anything is wrong, no matter what. She will truly be missed by her players on the sideline, and quite honestly, if I were any year other than a senior I don't think I would be as happy as I am for her to take this next step in her career simply because I would miss her there."
Current men's volleyball coach
Daniel Miranda will assume coaching duties of the women's team starting in the fall of 2019, while current men's basketball coach
Randie Torgalski will move into the head coaching position for Elmira's softball program at the beginning of the 2019-20 academic year.
"I'm happy for the women to have Dan and Randie's energy guiding them," added Faunce. "Retiring completely from coaching happened a little sooner than I had expected, but the opportunity presented itself, and I felt it was good timing to pass the programs on to these two great guys with tons of new energy."
"Congratulations to Rhonda on her new appointment within the athletic department," said Miranda. "Her achievements as a coach speak for themselves and her legacy will live on for all classes that follow. Rhonda immediately became a mentor of mine from the moment I joined Elmira athletics. Her love for this institution and persistence to make experiences meaningful for everyone are what will continue to drive her success in her new role. I am honored to follow in her footsteps. I can't thank Rhonda and Renee enough for this dream opportunity to lead both the women's and men's volleyball programs."
"Rhonda Faunce is an EC Athletics fixture," added Torgalski. "Although she will no longer be on the sideline or in the dugout, I'm very happy she will remain in the building and on our team. She has been a tremendous mentor, leader, and friend to so many coaches, assistants, student-athletes, and alumni. Elmira College and our Athletics Department are very lucky to have her on their side."
Torgalski continues "I am honored and extremely excited to be the next Elmira softball coach. Thank you to
President Lindsay, Renee, Rhonda and the rest of our administrative team. Their collective confidence and belief in me is humbling. I cannot wait to attack this next challenge."
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
www.empire8.com and
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