Bonaventure Named 
Head Volleyball Coach 
at Franklin Pierce
Former head coach at West Chester takes over rising Ravens program, also to serve as Senior Women’s Administrator

RINDGE, N.H. (July 12, 2006) – Franklin Pierce has named Sharon Bonaventure as head coach of volleyball and senior women’s administrator at the College. The announcement was made this morning by Bruce Kirsh, Vice President and Director of Athletics at Franklin Pierce and confirmed by President Dr. George J. Hagerty.

            “I am very pleased to acquire the services of coach Bonaventure,” said Kirsh. “She has had significant success during her entire coaching career, most specifically at West Chester University, where her teams have been very competitive and have also had success in the classroom. Sharon has also demonstrated a strong administrative background and will be a positive addition to our staff as senior women’s administrator.”

            Bonaventure takes over at Franklin Pierce for Michelle Kreeger, who resigned after one year as head volleyball coach at the College in May. The Ravens are coming off one of their most successful seasons in program history, posting a 14-14 overall record and finishing in fifth place in the Northeast-10 with a 9-5 clip. They earned their first NE-10 Tournament berth and upset fourth-seeded UMass Lowell in the quarterfinal round before accepting an ECAC Division II Tournament bid for the first time in 12 years.

            “I’m extremely excited about the challenge that lies ahead at Franklin Pierce and talking the program to a higher level,” said Bonaventure. “I look forward to becoming a part of the Franklin Pierce family.”

            Bonaventure comes to Franklin Pierce after five successful seasons as head coach at West Chester University, an NCAA Division II program which competes in the highly competitive Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. (PSAC). She compiled a 99-59 (.627) overall record at West Chester, including three 20-win seasons and a 31-19 (.620) clip in PSAC play. Bonaventure was twice named PSAC Coach of the Year and her recruiting efforts produced the PSAC Rookie of the Year each of the last three seasons.

            In 2002, West Chester posted a 23-11 overall record and a share of the PSAC Eastern Division title for the first time in program history. The Golden Rams finished over .500 in each of Bonaventure’s five seasons at the helm. The team also carried a 3.318 cumulative grade point average this past year.

            Prior to her five years at West Chester, Bonaventure served four years as head volleyball coach at the University of Maine-Machias. She also served the University as Director of Athletics for one year. Bonaventure led the Clippers to a 79-35 (.693) record and back-to-back Maine Athletic Conference titles in 1999 and 2000. Bonaventure received NAIA Region X Coach of the Year honors in 1999 and was a two-time State of Maine Coach of the Year. Her team received the State of Maine Sportsmanship Award in 1999 as well.

            Bonaventure carries a career coaching record of 178-94 (.654) to Franklin Pierce. She has worked in varying capacities with the United States Olympic Committee in Colorado Springs, Colo., the University of Colorado-The Springs, Colorado College and The Colorado Springs School.

            Bonaventure earned her Master’s Degree in sports administration from the University of Northern Colorado in 1995 and her undergraduate degree in exercise sport and sciences from the University of Florida in 1993. She also attended Winthrop University for two years, where she was a member of the Eagles volleyball program as a freshman and sophomore, before transferring to Florida.  

            Bonaventure will assume her duties at Franklin Pierce on August 1.