Dennis Hires Fritz Rosenberg As Associate Head Coach

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State head volleyball coach Julie Darty Dennis announced the addition of Fritz Rosenberg as an associate head coach to her staff on Tuesday. Rosenberg brings a wealth of coaching experience at every level of volleyball.

"We are thrilled to have Fritz [Rosenberg] join us in StarkVegas," coach Dennis said. "I have known him for a while and have always respected him and his approach to the game. I think he is one of the best volleyball coaches in the country, and he will make an immediate impact here for the Maroon and White."

Rosenberg joins Dennis' staff after spending eight seasons with Ball State University and six seasons with Cardinals head coach Kelli Miller Phillips, who was named the 2021 Mid-American Conference and AVCA Midwest Region Coach of the Year. In his eight seasons with the Cardinals, Rosenberg helped lead the program to a 145-97 overall record and a pair of NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship appearances in 2019 and 2021.

In the 2021 event, Rosenberg helped guide the program to their third-ever first round victory. Ball State went 30-1 and was one of six NCAA programs to have 30 wins during the 2021 season. Over the last five seasons, the Cardinals overall record was 100-49 (.671) and 60-27 (.689) in conference play.

"Thank you to Head Coach Julie Darty Dennis, John Cohen, Bracky Brett, Eric George, Ann Carr and Mary McLendon for this opportunity to be a part of Mississippi State Volleyball," coach Rosenberg said. "The future for this program is incredibly bright and exciting. This is one of, if not, the top rising volleyball programs in the nation, which also competes in one of the toughest conferences in all of college volleyball. The vision the current team & players have, along with the entire administration & support staff, and led by Head Coach Julie Darty Dennis is truly special and an honor to be a part of."

Rosenberg was a part of many successful seasons with the Cardinals. He helped lead Ball State to a pair of Mid-American Conference Volleyball Tournament titles in 2019 and 2021, the 2021 MAC regular season crown, and four MAC West Division championships in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021. He also served as acting head coach for a portion of the 2020-21 season. Rosenberg guided the Cardinals to five wins, while head coach Phillips was on maternity leave.

He assisted in developing 15 All-MAC First Team honors and two AVCA All-Midwest Region picks. Rosenberg and staff continued to develop players, helping guide Ball State student-athletes to a pair of All-MAC Second Team awards, three All-MAC Honorable Mention accolades and eight MAC All-Freshman Team honors. During Rosenberg's tenure, he guided two student-athletes to MAC Freshman of the Year, one MAC Setter of the Year, 16 MAC West Division Offensive Player of the Week, nine MAC West Division Setter of the Week, and seven MAC West Division Defensive Player of the Week.

In the classroom, Rosenberg has helped Ball State student-athletes earn the prominent AVCA Team Academic Award five times in 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21. He mentored two former Cardinal players to College Sport Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District Second Team honors. Ball State student-athletes have captured Academic All-MAC honors 58 times and MAC Women's Volleyball Distinguished Scholar Athlete honors 18 times during his tenure.

Prior to his time at Ball State, Rosenberg was an assistant coach at Missouri State for three seasons. He helped guide the Bears to a 59-35 record during his tenure and posted a pair of 20-win seasons and helped advance Missouri State to the NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship in 2011. In addition, he helped guide Missouri State senior setter Carly Thomas to become the fifth American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American in program history. He also helped Missouri State student-athletes to 13 all-conference selections and one MVC Freshman of the Year honor.

Before joining Missouri State's staff, Rosenberg spent the 2010 season as a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Kentucky under head coach Craig Skinner. He helped guide the Wildcats to a 17-14 record and a trip to the NCAA Championship. He also worked with Southeastern Conference Libero of the Year Stephanie Klefot and AVCA Honorable Mention All-American middle blocker Lauren Rapp.

Rosenberg started his collegiate coaching career in 2009 at the University of Saint Francis as an assistant, where he guided the Lady Cougars to a third-place in the Mid-Central Conference.

Before entering the college ranks, Rosenberg worked with the men's and women's club teams at Ball State from 2006-09. He was the head coach and captain of the men's club program. He was the co-head coach of the women' club program and was named the 2008 National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association Co-Coach of the Year after taking the team to No. 1 in the national rankings. He helped guide the program to third place at nationals in 2007 and 2008.

In addition, while working with the Ball State club teams, he was an assistant coach at Muncie Central in Indiana for two seasons. He guided the program to a Class 4A state runner-up finish in 2006. Rosenberg was also an assistant at Plainfield North and helped guide four players to the NCAA Division l programs in 2008. Also, he spent three years at Munciana, while his 2010 17U team placing fifth at the AAU National Championships.

Rosenberg earned his bachelor's degree in sports administration from Ball State University.

For more information on the Bulldog volleyball program, visit HailState.com or search for "HailStateVB" on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Mississippi State University Athletics

Dennis Hires Fritz Rosenberg As Associate Head Coach

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