UC Merced announces hiring of new women’s volleyball coach
UC Merced announced Thursday that it has hired Anitra Brockman as its next head women’s volleyball coach.
Brockman joins UC Merced after spending the last two years launching the University of Maryland Eastern Shore men’s volleyball program, building the team into a Northeast Conference contender.
She became the first woman to lead an NCAA Division I men’s volleyball program. Previously, she served as the head men’s and women’s volleyball coach at Central State in Ohio for two years.
“I am incredibly honored and grateful for the opportunity to lead the UC Merced women’s volleyball program,” Brockman said in a news release. “From my first visit to campus, it was clear that UC Merced is a special place with tremendous momentum, outstanding people, and a genuine commitment to student-athlete success.”
Brockman takes over the UC Merced program after the university announced in May that Ai Prachumsri would not return as the head coach.
Prachumsri was coach for 10 seasons and led the Bobcats to a pair of California Pacific Conference Tournament Championships and a regular season title in 2024.
Prachumsri was named the 2024 Cal Pac Coach of the Year before leading the Bobcats into the NCAA Division II era in 2025.
UC Merced went 6-21 overall last season, its first at the NCAA Division II level. The Bobcats went 5-13 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association.
Brockman and the Bobcats are scheduled to open the new season Aug. 23 at UC Santa Cruz.
