Jim Giacomazzi - Pioneer Head Coach

Jim Giacomazzi is the new head coach of the Pioneer volleyball program.

Coach Giacomzzi moved to the Texas Panhandle in 1991 to take over as head volleyball coach at West Texas A&M University.  He led the Lady Buffs to a 36-2 record that year and a NCAA Division II National Championship.  He followed that up with a 30-11 record and a third place finish in the NCAA Elite 8 Tournament in 1992.

The following year he founded the Crown of Texas Volleyball Club, a highly successful organization which remains active today and of which he is director.  Coach Giacomazzi is member of the Professional Association of Volleyball Officials and the Panhandle Area Board of Officials, as well as the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

A graduate of Azusa Pacific University, Coach Giacomazzi has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Christian Education and Biblical Education and a Master's in Education from APU.  He played professional baseball in the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres organizations from 1981 to 1983 before turning to coaching.  He served as head volleyball coach at Oral Roberts University and at the University of Nevada-Reno, prior to moving to Canyon.

Abby Loerwald - Graduate Assistant Coach

Coach Abby Loerwald completed her fourth and final season as a member of the Pioneer volleyball program in 2006.

A native of Amarillo and a graduate of Tascosa High School, Coach Loerwald played in 143 matches as a Pioneer. She was twice selected to the All-Sooner Athletic Conference team as a setter. Her best season came in 2005 when she set a new WBU record for assists with 1,425.

Coach Loerwald is second in Pioneer career assists with 3,915. She also recorded over 1,000 digs in her time in a Pioneer uniform.

Amy Rice - Graduate Assistant Coach

Coach Amy Rice returns to the Pioneers after spending the past two seasons playing at Tarleton State University where she was a two-time Honorable Mention Lone Star Conference selection.

A graduate of Dalhart (TX) High School, Coach Rice played her first two years of collegiate volleyball at Wayland. Her freshman season, she was named Sooner Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year and a SAC second team All-Conference selection.

She transferred to Tarleton State following her sophomore season, and made an immediate impact, leading the Lady Texans in blocks. She was named TSU Defensive Player of the Year, Coca-Cola Community All-American and was a NCAA Leadership Award nominee.

Besides her coaching duties, Coach Rice is also working as a WBU Admissions Recruiter.