MENOMONIE (March 29, 2022) - With coaching experience at just about every level of college volleyball, Ben Staupe will take over the reins as the head coach of the UW-Stout volleyball program, UW-Stout athletic director
Duey Naatz announced today.
Staupe has coached at the NCAA Division I level, the Division III level, the NAIA level and at the junior college level.
Staupe comes to UW-Stout after four seasons as the head coach at NCAA Division I Western Illinois University, which was preceded by eight seasons as an assistant coach at Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) member UW-Whitewater. Before joining the Whitewater staff, Staupe was the head coach at Rock Valley College, a junior college in Rockford, Ill. A UW-La Crosse graduate, Staupe also served a stint as an assistant coach at NAIA Viterbo University, as well as coaching club volleyball and high school volleyball.
"I am honored to have been chosen as the next head coach to lead the UW-Stout volleyball program. I would like to first thank
Duey Naatz, (associate athletic director)
Erin Sullivan and the search committee for their support throughout this process," Staupe said. "I look forward to working with the student-athletes and help aid them in attaining new levels of success."
"I was very impressed with the administration's vision, direction and support of athletics," Staupe said. "The athletic department has a genuine family feel which will make it an exciting environment to work in. It is a great challenge and opportunity to have the opportunity to coach in one of the best conferences in Division III."
"We are pleased to welcome Ben and his family to UW-Stout and to the Menomonie community," said Naatz. "Ben brings a wide range of volleyball experiences and we look forward to him working with our Blue Devil student-athletes. His experiences will help to guide our student-athletes on the court, in the classroom and in the community."
Staupe believes his eight years at Whitewater gives him an immediate familiarity with the WIAC.
"I have seen what it takes to win in this conference with my experience I was afforded at Whitewater," Staupe said. "The goals are always going to be to continue to improve the competitiveness of this program to a point where we can eventually be competing in the conference tournament on a yearly basis. The process to get there is a tough one as every program is competitive in their own right but I think these student-athletes here at Stout are truly ready to take the next step toward success."
Staupe assumed the head coaching role at Western Illinois in August, 2018, coaching the Leathernecks for four seasons. Staupe's 2021 team won the most conference meets in more than seven years and two produced two freshman players that earned All-Summit League status, the first time in school history. A stickler in the classroom, Staupe oversaw the program academically improve from a 3.1 GPA his first year to a high of 3.70.
Staupe came on staff at Western Illinois after eight seasons on staff at UW-Whitewater where he served in various roles before being promoted to associate head coach in 2016. With the Warhawks, he assisted the team to seven straight NCAA Championship appearances crowned by a spot in the Sweet 16 in the 2016 season. The Warhawks program compiled a record of 161-53 during his tenure while winning six WIAC titles. He also coached 20 All-Americans, 31 All-WIAC selections and three WIAC Scholar-Athletes.
Before UW-Whitewater, Staupe spent eight seasons as head coach at Rock Valley College in Illinois. Posting a combined record of 110-30 in his last three seasons, he guided RVC to conference championships in each campaign. He was named Coach of the Year on nine occasions, including the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Midwest Coach of the Year in 2004, because of his knack for developing student-athletes both on and off the court. Overall, Staupe posted a 192-101 record at Rock Valley, winning four conference titles. Twice his teams advanced to the NJCAA national tournament, finishing second in 2004.
While at Rock Valley, Staupe coached seven NJCAA All-Americans, 22 all-region selections, 34 all-conference picks and five academic All-Americans.
Following a high school volleyball career at Kettle Moraine High School, Staupe was a member of the UW-La Crosse men's volleyball club as a setter and defensive specialist. Staupe received both a bachelor's and master's degree at UW-La Crosse with a focus on exercise sport science (2001) and human performance (2003), respectively.
Staupe and his wife, Kate, have two daughters, Lilah and Ella. Minion, their dog, and Bear, their cat, are also part of the family.
