Grunwald Joins Arkansas Volleyball Staff
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Kris Grunwald joined the University of Arkansas volleyball staff as an assistant coach head coach Robert Pulliza announced Thursday.
Grunwald is very familiar with the Southeastern Conference and Arkansas after six years at Auburn and three at Ole Miss during his coaching career.
“I’m extremely excited to have Kris as part of our staff,” said Pulliza. “It’s not often that you have the opportunity to work with someone who has been to the Final Four, is a three-time All-American and is a trusting friend. I have no doubt in my mind Kris will be great in our system and that he will always have the best interest of our student-athletes at heart.”
Grunwald was a three-time Asics Honorable Mention All-American and three-time first-team All-East volleyball player as an undergraduate at George Mason reaching the Final Four in 1987. He moved on to Florida State for his graduate work where he worked as an assistant coach for two seasons.
Grunwald assumed a larger role as the recruiting coordinator when he joined the Auburn staff as an assistant in 1994, a position he held until 1998.
In 1998, Grunwald stepped into the head coaching job with the Tigers. He guided Auburn to a 22-9 record his first season and tallied 41 wins during his tenure.
Grunwald moved on to the University of Michigan serving as the compliance services coordinator for the Wolverines from 2000-02 assisting with student-athlete certification, eligibility and NCAA rules interpretation.
But coaching came calling again in 2002 when he returned to the SEC as an assistant coach at Ole Miss, a position he held through 2005.
Grunwald moved on from Ole Miss becoming the associate head coach at Morehead State until accepting the position at Arkansas.
Grunwald is a 1991 graduate of George Mason with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. He earned his master’s degree in mathematics education at Florida State in 1993.
Grunwald is married to Morehead State soccer coach Erin Aubry.
“I can’t wait for Kris and Erin to get in town and get started,” concluded Pulliza.
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