Long Beach State names a new coach to head its powerhouse volleyball women's program

Long Beach State will name Joy McKienzie-Fuerbringer as its new women’s volleyball coach, athletic director Andy Fee confirmed Monday moing.

McKienzie-Fuerbringer will be the successor to legendary coach Brian Gimmillaro, who won three national titles and recently announced his retirement after 32 years as head coach.

“We have a deep tradition in volleyball here at the Beach so we talked to a number of people,” said Fee. “It’s like for USC football or Alabama football, you’re going to hear from the cream of the crop. Joy’s name kept rising to the top of the list. What I enjoyed most about talking to her was her understanding of the culture and the tradition here as an alum.”

McKienzie-Fuerbringer helped the 49ers win a national title in 1993 as an All-American setter and was an assistant coach for the 49ers in 1999 and 2000, including a Final Four appearance. She also coached at Golden West, Wilson, and Los Alamitos, but is perhaps best-known locally as the founder, owner and director of the powerhouse youth club, Mizuno Long Beach.

Most recently at the collegiate level, McKienzie-Fuerbringer was an assistant coach at UCLA for several years, including serving on the Bruins’ 2011 national championship staff.

Her husband, Matt Fuerbringer, who is on the USA national team men’s staff, is expected to be named the associate head coach, and also brings a depth of coaching and recruiting knowledge. The Fuerbringers have a daughter, Charlie, and a son, Mateo, and reside in Hermosa Beach.

“I think right off the bat with Joy and Matt, there’s not too many coaching staffs across the country better than that,” said Fee.

McKienzie-Fuerbringer’s brother, David, also was an All-American while playing at Long Beach State and made the 2012 Olympics with the USA team.

The second assistant position still needs to be filled and Fee said he anticipates McKienzie-Fuerbringer will be filling it as quickly as possible. While 49er fandom was hoping (as abundant message board chatter shows) to see five-time Olympian and alum Misty May-Treanor get the job, Fee said the timing didn’t work out due to May-Treanor’s family commitments and dedication to her job at Long Beach City College, where she’s entering her second year as director of volleyball.

Fee said fans shouldn’t rule out seeing May-Treanor back home, however.

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“I’d love to keep talking to Misty,” said Fee. “The goal is to eventually separate the beach program and fund that out appropriately, and she’d obviously be a dream candidate for that, but the timing has to work for her.”

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