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James Goodridge Named Assistant Volleyball Coach
2/11/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
BUFFALO, NY - University at Buffalo volleyball head coach Todd Kress has announced the addition of James Goodridge as assistant volleyball coach. Goodridge has spent the last three years as the head men's volleyball coach at Lees-McRae College. He joins fellow assistant coach Marie Zidek, who joined the staff in early January.
"I am extremely excited to have James join our staff," said Kress. "His personality and strengths as a coach will really round out our staff. He has been a successful head coach on the men's side so he knows what it takes in the gym to be the best."
Goodridge took the men's program at Lees-McRae to new heights in 2011, leading the Bobcats to a 16-10 overall record, including a 5-3 mark in Conference Carolinas play. Under Goodridge's leadership, the Bobcats posted a trio of victories over NCAA Division I opponents, including a pivotal victory over No. 16 Ball State University, while nearly upsetting No. 11 Penn State University in a five-set thriller.
Goodridge played a pivotal role in the success of the women's program in 2010, as the Bobcats went 25-8 overall and posted a perfect 18-0 record in conference play en route to the program's 12th regular season title in the last 14 years. Lees-McRae closed out the season with a nine-match winning streak, capturing the program's 12th conference tournament championship, punching their ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the 11th time in the last 12 years.
His coaching career began directly after high school, coaching while attending college. Goodridge served as the head coach of the men's club team at Florida State University. After graduating from Florida State University, Goodridge became an assistant for the men's and women's volleyball teams at Springfield College in Springfield, MS. Goodridge was an essential piece to the women's success, as they finished 27-8 en route to a spot in the conference tournament finals.
Goodridge joined the Bobcats from conference foe Mount Olive College, where he served as the interim coach for women's volleyball, leading the Trojans to the conference tournament championship match as the fifth seed in 2008. Goodridge was named the program's associate head coach during the following men's season.
"I want to thank Todd for this opportunity and I am looking forward to starting and working with these student-athletes," said Goodridge. "I have been impressed with the support of this institution to the volleyball program and I am ready to help us win championships."
Goodridge graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in sport management from Florida State in 2006, and later received his Master of Arts in sport and fitness from the University of Central Florida.
