March 5, 2008

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Former University of Memphis assistant coach and All-American player April Jauregui has been named head volleyball coach at Memphis. Jauregui replaces Carrie Yerty, who took the top spot at the University of Wyoming in late January.

The eighth head coach in the 38-year history of Tiger volleyball, Jauregui (pronounced How-duh-gee) will take over the Memphis volleyball program after a three-year stint as an assistant under Yerty. As the assistant, she served as the outside hitters coach as well as being responsible for the program's recruiting efforts.

"I would like to express my gratitude to Athletic Director R.C. Johnson, Associate Athletic Director Lynn Parkes and all other members of the search committee for this wonderful opportunity," said Jauregui. "It is a dream fulfilled to be coaching at my alma mater."

"I am excited to be a part of such a fine university, administration and athletic department," added Jauregui. "Building on the past successes of Memphis Volleyball will be a prime focus as we work toward raising the volleyball program to an elite status."

Jauregui has built a solid foundation in NCAA Division I level coaching. Prior to taking the assistant post at Memphis, the Orange County, Calif., native spent the 2003 and 2004 seasons as an assistant coach under former U of M assistant Fiona Simmons at Lamar University.

The former Memphis star, began her coaching career at the club level, while still in her playing career at the U of M. She led the Memphis Jr.'s and later coached Spike Volleyball Club in Nashville, Tenn.

Upon graduation from Memphis in 2001, Jauregui moved on to Ohio University, where she served as the Bobcats' volunteer assistant in 2001, before taking on added responsibilities as a full-time assistant in 2002.

The former April Harriman was a standout outside hitter for Yerty at Memphis from 1997-2000. A highly decorated player on the court, she still ranks 18th all-time at Memphis with 1,071 career kills. She led her 2000 club with 494 kills (a mark that still stands in the program's top-10) and is just one of four Tiger volleyball players to ever record 30 kills in a match, when she slammed down 30 kills in a win over cross-town foe Christian Brothers in the same season.

A true student-athlete, she also excelled in the classroom as an eight-time Dean's List student. She was selected as the University of Memphis' top female athlete in 2000 when she earned the Elma Roane Award. She was tabbed the University's Female Student-Athlete of the Year Award in 2000. A four-time recipient of the Conference USA Commissioner's Medal, Jauregui was tabbed a CoSIDA Academic First Team All-District performer and became Memphis volleyball's first-ever CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2000.

She graduated from Memphis Summa Cum Laude in 2001 with a degree in communications and political science. She completed her master's studies in organizational communication at Ohio University in the spring of 2002.

Jauregui is married to Gabriel Jauregui, who is a special education teacher and coach at Cordova High School.