Northwestern University Athletics
Chan Names Assistant Volleyball Coaches
8/18/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 18, 2000
Josh Grau and Valerie Jones have been named assistant volleyball coaches at Northwestern University, it was announced today by head coach Keylor Chan. Grau comes to Northwestern from Texas, while Jones comes from the University of California-Davis.
"Josh and Valerie are wonderful additions to our program," said Chan. "I look forward to working with them as we build the Wildcat volleyball program into one of the top in the Big Ten."
Grau, a native of Tampa, Fla., spent last season as the volunteer assistant coach at the University of Texas. His primary duties included statistical analysis and assisting in the day-to-day operations. Grau is a 1997 graduate of the University of Florida, where he was a four-year member of the Gator volleyball team. He helped guide Florida to four-straight SEVC conference championships and three appearances in the National Intercollegiate Recreation Sports Association Final Four, including two appearances in the NIRSA National Championship match. In addition to his playing career, Grau spent one season coaching the Tampa Bay Juniors volleyball club team, and has also been a camp coach at Florida, the University of Tampa, and Texas. Grau earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Florida in 1997 and a master's of Education in sport management from Texas in 2000.
Jones brings a wealth of experience to the Wildcat coach staff. Last season she was the assistant at UC-Davis where she had responsibilities with on-court coaching, recruiting, scouting and scheduling. Prior to her tenure at UC-Davis, Jones spent a season at Utah State University as an assistant. She spent the 1996 and 1997 seasons at North Dakota as a member of the Fighting Sioux coaching staff. Prior to her experience at North Dakota, Jones was a coach in the Tampa Bay Juniors Volleyball Club as well as a pair of Tampa, Fla., area high schools. A native of Chicago, Jones was a three-sport athlete at Tampa, playing volleyball, basketall and softball. As a senior she was named a second-team All-American by the American Volleyball Coaches Association, while also earning all-region and All-Sunshine Conference accolades. Jones helped lead Tampa to two NCAA berths and one Elite Eight appearance. She earned a bachelor's degree in corporate fitness and physical education from Tampa in 1995, and earned her master's from North Dakota in physical education and sport psychology in 1998.
