By Ben Risinger, Sports Information Director
November 10, 2004

BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University athletics department has announced that Sara Wakefield will resign from her post at the conclusion of the 2004-05 school year.

Wakefield has been the head volleyball coach for the past six years and the associate athletics director for the past two years. She was also an assistant professor in the health, physical education and recreation department.

"Sara is currently teaching a very unique combination of courses and will be greatly missed by students, faculty and staff," HPER department chair Tami Forbes said.

During her tenure at Bluffton, Wakefield amassed an 81-121 career record from the 1999 to 2004 seasons. She coached nine All-Heartland Conference volleyball players and posted her highest win count of 19-16 in 2000. The 2003 edition of the volleyball team was also named an American Volleyball Coaches Association team academic award recipient.

"I'm very excited that Sara is going on to her next chapter in life, but disappointed that she will no longer be an every day part of Bluffton athletics," athletics director Phill Talavinia said.

A national search will soon be conducted by the athletics department to find a new volleyball coach and professor of health, physical education and recreation.