Updated August 2, 2007

Brenda Winkeler begins her third year as the head volleyball coach at Southern Illinois, after posting the best record (11-17) and best conference finish (sixth) since Southern's 2002 season.

Since taking the reigns of the Saluki volleyball program, the team has reached into the record books in 15 categories, breaking the record for digs in a season (Kristy Elswick, 569). Elswick finished the season ranked 18th in the nation in digs per game average (5.75).

The 2006 squad produced the best dig production in school history (18.11 dpg), the lowest single-season total for ball handling errors (11) and the best blocking season since 1997 at 2.60 digs per game, ranked nationally at several points during the season.

Under Winkeler's tutelage, SIU garnered the first All-Missouri Valley Conference first-team honoree since 2002 in Johannah Yutzy in 2005. Yutzy went on to take second-team honors in 2006. The SIU grad hit .365 in 2005, second all-time in the books. Just a two-year starter, Yutzy wrapped up her career a .298 hitter, third all-time at SIU, also eighth in career kills per game (2.79).

As a team, the Salukis have improved in the league in four areas since 2004, including moving from ninth in the league in service aces (1.26) to first (1.66). The team also went from having no athletes ranked in the top-five in individual statistics in 2004 to having seven athletes ranked in eight categories over the past two seasons.

Academically, the team carries a 3.418 cumulative grade point average, earning the American Volleyball Coaches Association GamePlan/Team Academic Award for the second-straight season. The Salukis were one of 56 NCAA Division I schools to earn the academic distinction.

Prior to Winkeler's move to SIU, she led Eastern Illinois' volleyball program from 2000-2004.

In five years as a Division I head coach with the Panthers, Winkeler recorded an 82-72 record. She revitalized the Eastern Illinois program, making a trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2001 and capturing a share of the Ohio Valley Conference title in 2004.

Prior to coaching at Eastern Illinois, Winkeler won a junior college national championship in 1999 at Parkland College in Champaign, Ill. In 11 years at Parkland, she compiled a 428-164-9 record and earned Coach of the Year honors by both the National Junior College Athletic Association and American Volleyball Coaches Association.

"I'm a players' coach," Winkeler said. "I enjoy helping players grow into well-rounded student-athletes. I want them to have a good experience playing volleyball, as well as being good students at SIU."

Along with the swing offense, Winkeler said her team will emphasize audibles, quick offense and ball control. As a coach, she places a strong emphasis on communication and leadership and will meet regularly with an appointed team council.

In 16 years of coaching at the collegiate level, her teams have produced five junior college All-Americans and 12 All-Ohio Valley Conference picks, including the 2004-05 OVC Female Athlete of the Year, Erica Gerth. Gerth also garnered first-team all-OVC honors, as well as 2004 OVC Player of the Year. She was the first ever volleyball All-American (honorable mention) at Eastern, as well as first-team all-region.

Winkeler's setter at Eastern, Maren Crabtree, was named the OVC Freshman of the Year in 2004, second team all-OVC, honorable mention all-region and regional Freshman of the Year as well as being named the national Freshman of the Year by Collegiate Volleyball Update magazine.

In 2004, Winkeler's Panthers were ranked nationally in the top-20 in assists, kills and digs.

At Parkland, four of Winkeler's players earned Academic All-American awards and 15 of her student-athletes earned scholarships to NCAA Division I institutions.

She was named the Region 24 Coach of the Year in 1991, and three times was the CCCI Coach of the Year.

From 1984-1989, she was the head coach at Shiloh High School, guiding the Raiders to the IHSA Class A Elite Eight in 1987. During her tenure there, Shiloh won four regional titles with a 131-19 record.

A Bartelso, Ill., native, Winkeler graduated from Breese Mater Dei High School, received her undergraduate degree in physical education from Millikin University in 1984, and went on to the University of Illinois, where she earned her master's degree in educational administration in 1991.