Gregory Giovanazzi Named Women's Volleyball Coach At Johns Hopkins

Giovanazzi will lead a team that reached the finals in the ECAC South Tournament last season

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Giovanazzi becomes the seventh head coach in a 24-year program history.

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Aug. 15, 2008

BALTIMORE, MD - Johns Hopkins Athletic Director Tom Calder announced the appointment of Gregory Giovanazzi as the head women's volleyball coach Friday. Giovanazzi becomes just the seventh leader of a program that began in 1984. He replaces Scott Pennewill who recently resigned after six seasons with the Blue Jays to become the head coach at Loyola College.

"We're excited to announce the addition of Greg Giovanazzi to our coaching staff," said Mike Renwick, Associate Athletic Director. We feel his wealth of knowledge of the game of volleyball will be an asset to our program. The student-athlete experience will benefit greatly based on his knowledge and demeanor."

Giovanazzi comes to Hopkins after serving as the head coach at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County (2003-04) and Loyola College (2001). He served as head coach of the University of Michigan women's volleyball team (1992-1998), where he produced eight all-conference selections and led the team to the second round of the 1997 NCAA Tournament. Giovanazzi was a member of the Team USA Women's Volleyball coaching staff from 1990-1996, participating in the 1992 and 1996 Olympic games and earning a bronze medal in 1992.

"I am really excited to be at a school that has had some recent success," said Giovanazzi. "Scott did a great job here. I have been involved in the game a long time. I am really looking forward to working with the team."

Prior to working with the Olympic team, Giovanazzi assisted the men's and women's volleyball programs at UCLA for nine seasons, winning three NCAA Championships and appearing in six NCAA Final Fours.

Giovanazzi won the 1983 Southern California Coach of the Year at Santa Monica College, where he coached from 1982-83. He was also a member of the men's volleyball coaching staff at the University of Hawaii in 1980 and helped the Warriors to a Western Athletic Conference Championship.

He attended UCLA, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1981 and was a member of the men's volleyball squad from 1975-79. The Bruins won the NCAA Championship in 1976 and were the national runners-up in 1978. Giovanazzi was a part of the 1977 USA Men's Junior National Team, who won a bronze medal in the Pac Rim Championships. He also participated on the USA Men's National Team in 1983.

Giovanazzi will take the helm of a squad that returns 15 letterwinners, finished 25-6 and advanced to the ECAC South Championship match and the Centennial Conference Semifinals a year ago.