Pages 1-15 - Creighton University Bluejays

Assistant CoachesAngie Oxley BehrensTom MendozaA former national champion and four-year starterat the University of Nebraska, Angie Oxley Behrensreturns for her eighth season as an assistant coach atCreighton. She is the longest tenured assistant coachin program history.Behrens works closely with Creighton’s outside hitterswhile also assisting with scouting and recruiting.The last seven years have seen the Creighton teamrecord its top five single-season kill totals all-time, as well as the top four individualsingle-season marks that were set by Leah Ratzlaff and Kelly Goc.Behrens has also trained four players to a spot on the MVC’s All-Freshmanteam, middle blockers Kelly Goc (2004) and Jessica Houts (2005) as well asoutside hitters Carolyn Decker (2004) and Allie Oelke (2007). Oelke becamethe program’s first player named Valley Freshman of the Year as well.A member of KirstenBernthal Booth’s originalstaff, Behrens has seenCreighton go 120-89 in herseven completed seasonson the bench.While at NU, Behrenswon three Big 12 titles, wasnamed 1997 Big 12 Freshmanof the Year and waschosen as the University’sfemale student-athlete ofthe year in 2001 after leadingthe Cornhuskers to a 34-0 mark and national title inthe fall of 2000 as a senior.She closed her career as theschool’s all-time digs leader with1,086.In the classroom, Behrens was aChancellor’s Scholar and four-timeHighest Honors Distinction Medalhonoree. She also was a four-yearacademic All-Big 12 selection, arecipient of an NCAA PostgraduateScholarship and one of 10 finalistsfor the 2001 NCAA Woman of theYear. She was also a member of theMortar Board Honor Society, Pi Lambda Theta Honor Society, Golden Key,2000 Homecoming Royalty Court and the Dean’s List.Along with her coaching duties, Behrens helps organize Creighton’s volleyballcamps in addition to her role in the Bluejay compliance office.Behrens and her husband, Matt, were married in June of 2006. The coupleresides in Lincoln with their son, Logan, who was born on June 5, 2010.Additional Support StaffKevin GebhardtManagerMorgan NicholsAthletic TrainerBrandy InglesVolleyball Administrator15Tom Mendoza is in his first year as an assistantcoach at Creighton.He was hired in June after spending the previousseason at the University of Evansville. Whilewith the Purple Aces, Mendoza worked with the setters,outside hitters and primary passers. He alsorecruited for the Purple Aces program.“The number one thing I look for when hiring ishigh character,” said Kirsten Bernthal Booth. “Tom is a high character personin addition to being a fantastic coach. He was an outstanding collegiate playerand we look forward to him bringing in new training ideas to enhance ourteam. In addition, he was heavily involved with recruiting at Evansville andhas connections in areas of the country where we’d like to make additionalinroads.”Mendoza, a native of Buffalo Grove, Ill., came to UE after spending twoseasons as the volunteer assistant at Michigan State. While at Michigan State,Mendoza and the Spartans appeared in the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2007. He alsoserved on the Michigan State volleyball summer camp staff in 2007 and 2008and was the director of Spartan Session volleyball camps and clinics.A three-year letterwinner in volleyball at Newman University and a oneyearletterwinner at Lewis University,Mendoza had an outstanding playingcareer. He was a 10-time Mid-AmericaMen’s Volleyball Intercollegiate ConferenceSetter of the Week and was athree-time all-conference selection.During his playing career, he was alsonamed a NAIA All-American.Mendoza served as the head coachof the Spartan Junior 16 Girls club teamthat finished first in the Michigan PowerLeague. He was also the head coach forthe Juggernaut Volleyball Club inWheat Ridge, Colo., and the Sports Performance 15 Elite Boys that earnedfifth place at the Junior Olympic Nationals.Mendoza received his bachelor’s degree in management information systemsfrom Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill.He is single and resides in Omaha.Amanda (Gates) SjutsFormer University of Nebraska middle blockerAmanda (Gates) Sjuts was named volunteer assistantcoach at Creighton in July.Sjuts’ primary responsibilities will be helping withpractices -- specifically training middle blockers -- aswell as some administrative tasks.A native of Columbus, Neb., she competed atNebraska from 2005-08 under her maiden name ofAmanda Gates. She enjoyed a decorated career with the Huskers as part of asenior class that went 127-8 over four years as the Cornhuskers won thenational title in 2006, were NCAA runner-up in 2005, reached the NCAA Tournamentsemifinals in 2008 and the NCAA quarterfinals in 2007.In 2008 she was named a CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine First Team AcademicAll-American in addition to honorable-mention All-Big 12 accolades whileserving as a Husker tri-captain. She was a recipient of Postgraduate Scholarshipsfrom both the NCAA and Big 12 Conference, a two-time first-team AcademicAll-Big 12 pick and was a nine-time selection to the Big 12 Commissioner’sHonor Roll.She and her husband, Anthony, were married in July and reside in Omaha.