Ellen Andrews, a former Augustana College all-star player who served as the Bearkats' graduate assistant coach in 2010, joined the Sam Houston staff as assistant coach July 18, 2011.
Andrews has played an important role in helping direct the Kats to the 2012 Southland Conference championship, a 35-12 league mark and 54-41 overall record and consecutive Southland post-season tournament appearances in 2010, 2011 and 2012.
During the past three seasons, seven Sam Houston players have earned All-Southland honors a total of 11 times. Deveney Wells-Gibson was recognized as the league's "Player of the Year" after the 2012 championship season.
The Bancroft, Nebr., native played in 122 matches for the Augustana Vikings, where she finished fifth all-time in kills (1,328), while compiling a .269 hitting percentage and 299 total blocks as a right side hitter. During her career at Augustana, the Vikings qualified for the NCAA Division II central regional volleyball championships three years.
For her efforts, Andrews was named All-NCC Honorable Mention in 2006, All-NCC First Team in 2007, as well as All-NSIC Second Team in 2008. She was also named to the 2008 Daktronics, Inc. All-Central Region Volleyball Second Team.
Andrews was graduated Summa Cum Laude with a 3.97 grade point average while earning degrees in Exercise Science and Fitness Management. She was a four-time Academic All-NCC/NSIC selection, as well as a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team selection. At the end of her career, she received the NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction Award.
Before coming to Sam Houston, Andrews served as assistant coach for the Nebraska Elite L.O.D. club volleyball team which qualified in the 17 Open division for the USA Volleyball Girls' Junior National Championships in Reno, Nevada in 2010. She also assisted with several USA Volleyball high performance tryouts.
Andrews is completing her work towards a Master of Arts in Exercise Science at Sam Houston State University
