University of Wisconsin, La Crosse Women's Volleyball

Deb Sazama starts her third season as head volleyball coach at UW-La Crosse in 2025. Prior to being named head coach, she served as an assistant coach in 2022. During Sazama's second season, the Eagles finished 6-24 as Gabby Johnson was named to the All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Honorable Mention Team. Kayla Sexton was chosen to the All-WIAC Sportsmanship team. UWL also had Paige Geiser, Grace Nommensen and Jackie Oetterer selected to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Team. UWL finished 16-15 in 2023 under Sazama as Brianne Korducki and Anna Rossner were both named to the All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Honorable Mention Team. Sazama worked in UWL's Exercise Sport Science Department from 2014-22, serving as Associate Chair in July 2021-August 2022. Her responsibilities included scheduling all courses in the department and each teaching responsibilities for each faculty and staff member. Sazama was the Director of the UWL Greater La Crosse Area Physical Education Program since September 2018 and Physical Education Teacher Education Program Director since August 2017. She was also the Director of the UWL Youth Sport and Fitness Camp.  Other teaching experience includes at Loras College (Iowa), Winona State University (Minn.), Defiance College (Ohio) and the University of Wyoming.  Sazama was the assistant women's volleyball coach at Winona State (Minn.) from 2003-06, assisting with all aspects of the Warriors' program. Prior to arriving at Winona State (Minn.), Sazama was the head women's volleyball coach at Defiance (Ohio) from 2000-03. The Yellow Jackets finished 23-8 overall and 5-2 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference in 2002. Defiance (Ohio) set a school record for wins. The Yellow Jackets were 21-9 in 2001 as Sazama was named the conference coach of the year.  She has volleyball camp and club experience with the Xtreme Volleyball Club, UWL Elite Volleyball Camp, Winona (Minn.) Area Volleyball Club, Winona State (Minn.), Defiance (Ohio) and Northwest (Ohio) Volleyball Camps, Inc.  Sazama earned her bachelor's (1993) and master's (1997) of science degrees from the University of Wyoming. She earned her Doctor of Education Degree from the University of Northern Iowa in 2017. She competed in track & field at Wyoming, serving as team captain.  Athletic administration experience includes faculty athletic representative at Loras (Iowa) as well as assistant athletic director and senior women's administrator at Defiance (Ohio). 

Nellie George begins her first season as assistant volleyball coach at UW-La Crosse in 2025. She will also serve the Eagles athletic department as a facilities and events coordinator.  George joins the Eagles staff after serving last season as a volunteer assistant with the program. Prior to that, George spent 16 years in the high school ranks along with nine years coaching club volleyball.  She served two different stints (2005-2008, 2017-2023) as the head coach at La Crosse Aquinas High School. During her time at Aquinas, George led the Blugolds to six Mississippi Valley Conference championships and 10 Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) regional championships. She led her 2019 team to the WIAA State Championship game where they finished state runner-up.  Prior to Aquinas, George served as an assistant coach at several high schools including La Crosse Central, Cotter High School (Winona, Minn.) and Onalaska (Wis.). George also spent nine years coaching club volleyball for multiple clubs.