Head Coach

Christina Ludwick

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Christina Ludwick has been named Head Women's Volleyball Coach at St. Thomas University, announced Laura Courtley-Todd, Director of Athletics.
 
Ludwick, who arrives from Central Christian College (Kan.), will oversee all aspects of the St. Thomas University volleyball program, including the newly established Beach Volleyball program.
 
"I am thrilled to be here at St. Thomas University", said Ludwick.  "To be at a school with such strong academics and a volleyball program that is very close to winning the conference and going to nationals made the opportunity very appealing to me.  I look forward to taking the Bobcats to the next level with both the indoor and beach programs."
 
Ludwick began her college head coaching at Central Christian College in 2013, inheriting an NAIA program that finished 1-26 in 2012.  She turned CCC around, taking the 2014 team to its first appearance in the MCAC Conference Playoffs, then setting a school record for wins and making the program's first appearance in the NCCAA Division I Regional Tournament in 2015.
 
Prior to Central Christian, Ludwick was a Head Coach for Club West, a nationally recognized club program based in Nashville, Tenn.  From 2013-15, she served as the Head Coach of the Kansas Volleyball Club.
 
She began her coaching career in 2009 as the Head Coach of the Alliance Volleyball Club, then became an Assistant Coach for Ravenwood High School in Nashville, where she coached the 2010 Gatorade Tennessee Player of the Year helped lead Ravenwood to the TSSAA Division I state championship.
 
As a player, Ludwick was a four-year starter and a three-year captain for Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy, Mass. where she earned multiple NCAA All-Academic and All-Conference Academic honors, while also serving as the President of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee.
 
Ludwick, a native of New Hampshire, holds a Master's degree in Sports Administration from Belmont University and a Bachelor's in Sports Management (Magna Cum Laude) from Eastern Nazarene College.
 


Coach Ludwick sat down with stubobcats.com for an interview upon her arrival at St. Thomas University.
 

stubobcats.com: Congratulations on your new position as Head Volleyball Coach for the St. Thomas University Bobcats.  How excited are you to be here at STU?
 
Coach Ludwick: I am extremely excited.  When I was offered the job, I knew immediately this was where I wanted to be and where I want to be for a long time.
 
stubobcats.com: What specifically about St. Thomas excites you the most about this opportunity?
 
Coach Ludwick: The big thing about coaching volleyball is that you want kids that are strong both academically and athletically.  First and foremost, to be at a school with such great academics is really important and a great recruiting tool.  The success overall and the growth of the St. Thomas volleyball program is also what really drew me here.  We are really close to being conference champions and really close to advancing to the regional tournament.  I think it's a very exciting time to be a part of it all.
 
stubobcats.com: What are your thoughts on the roster that you inherit? 
 
Coach Ludwick: The roster looks great and having a lot of returners is really important for me in that I am able to work with them now in April instead of bringing in new players.  I was a part of a rebuild over the past three years (at Central Christian) and being a part of something that is already established is really exciting.  I am thrilled to be here and can't wait to get started.
 
stubobcats.com: We recently unveiled the new Dominick Miniaci Beach Volleyball Courts and have begun exhibition play on the club level.   What are your thoughts on Beach Volleyball here at St. Thomas and how Beach can be successful, while also elevating the indoor program?
 
Coach Ludwick: One of the most exciting developments in the volleyball world right now is the growth of Beach Volleyball. Obviously in some parts of the country it is easier to do than others, and of course here in South Florida it is an ideal fit.  Recruiting-wise it is going to help.  For the players who are here, they get to train consistently in a new way.  They will be able to not only work indoors but get a break from that by training outdoors while also experiencing the fun of being on the sand.  Something new is always exciting.  I believe we will be able to grow from the club to collegiate level in Beach Volleyball and be competitive not only in the Fall for indoor but also in Spring for Beach.
 
stubobcats.com: You come from Central Christian College in Kansas where you inherited a program that finished 1-26 the year before you arrived.  You completely turned that program around into a successful one.  How did you do it?
 
Coach Ludwick: The biggest part of it for me was to find out the culture of the school and figure out how I could recruit there.  I wasn't from Kansas so I had to get to know the area and recruit.  I have always coached club and was able to tap into that experience to get to know people in the area's club volleyball was volleyball.  Then getting the right buy-in from the student-athletes and getting the players who wanted to be a part of the rebuild and finding quality student-athletes who want to work hard and get it done.  From there it was just about working hard and not slowing down when we hit bumps in the road.
 
stubobcats.com: Finally, how would you describe your coaching philosophy?   What can fans of the program expect when they see the Bobcats in action this Fall?
 
Coach Ludwick: I am a very passionate and excitable person, and my coaching philosophy reflects that. I love seeing my players succeed and do the little things right, and you'll see me engaged and active on the sidelines. As a program we will focus heavily on ball control, which will allow us to play at a fast tempo. This is already an offensively dominant team, and I want to be able to build on that with quality passing and defense. I am big on the details, the discipline and working hard. Fans are going to see the Bobcats continue to play at a high level with a renewed focus on the defensive side of the ball. These girls already have such a passion and drive to be successful that the transition into next season should be a fun one.