2019 NCAA Tournament First Round
2019 SoCon Tournament Championship
2019 SoCon Regular Season Championship
2018 NCAA Tournament First Round
2018 SoCon Tournament Championship
Betsy Freeburg, a former standout at the University of Florida and All-SEC selection, is entering her fourth season on staff at Samford, where she serves as the Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator for the Bulldogs.
One of the top up-and-coming coaches in the country, Freeburg was recently named to the AVCA's "Thirty Under 30" list, and has had a tremendous impact on Samford's program over her three seasons, helping to lead the Bulldogs to back-to-back Southern Conference Tournament championships and NCAA Tournament berths in 2018 and 2019.
Freeburg was a crucial piece of Samford's 2019 team, which recorded the best season in program history. The Bulldogs finished with an overall record of 24-6, and won a Southern Conference regular season championship after going 15-1 in SoCon play. The Bulldogs also knocked off #24 Arizona for their first-ever win over a top-25 program. Samford followed up its best-ever regular season by winning its second-consecutive SoCon Tournament, qualifying for the NCAA Tournament for a second straight year.
Senior standout Kelsi Hobbs was named the SoCon Player of the Year and an AVCA All-Region honorable mention. Sophomore Lauren Deaton joined Hobbs as an All-SoCon first team selection, while Emily Naubert was named to the All-Freshman team.
In 2018, Freeburg helped lead the Bulldogs to the program's second Southern Conference Tournament title and NCAA Tournament appearance in three years. The team knocked off top-seeded ETSU, 3-1, to win the SoCon Tournament title. In the NCAA Tournament, the Bulldogs traveled to Los Angeles to take on national power USC. The team finished the season with a mark of 19-15 overall and 11-5 in SoCon play. Taylor Anderton and Krista Boesing were both named All-SoCon first team selections, while Anderton was also named to the AVCA All-Region team. Lauren Deaton was named to the All-SoCon second team, while also being named the Southern Conference Freshman of the Year.
Freeburgh officially joined Samford’s coaching staff on April 21, 2017. She served as an Assistant Coach for her first three seasons, before being promoted to Associate Head Coach in 2020. Prior to coming to Samford, Freeburg spent three seasons at Georgia State University. When she was hired, Chan said he was excited about what Freeburg brought to the program.
“We are truly blessed to have Betsy Join the Bulldog volleyball family,” said Chan. “From the beginning of our search, it was clear that Betsy possessed the exact skill-set we were looking for in our open assistant position. Betsy has developed a passion for coaching and the sport of volleyball. She has a great acumen in building quality relationships. Her experience as a coach, student-athlete, and most importantly, person, will be an asset to our program.
“The foundation of Samford volleyball is our people. Our people must have a desire to learn, create, be process-oriented, dedicated, tough and humble. Betsy embodies all these principles and we are excited to begin our next chapter with Betsy on staff.”
During her time at Georgia State, Freeburg served as Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator under Head Coach Sally Polhamus where she assisted in the commitment of 22 student-athletes. She also managed evaluation days and the recruiting calendar, while operating as the primary liaison to compliance.
Additionally, Freeburg proved to be Georgia State’s defensive coordinator where she created defensive strategies and game plans in scouting. She also planned practices and trained the middle blockers and attackers, while contributing to the team’s overall defensive scheme.
"I'm thrilled to join Keylor as a part of the Samford family,” said Freeburg. “Samford volleyball is building something incredibly special and I look forward to contributing to our team's progress and growth both on and off the court. It's an exciting time to be a Bulldog and I'm honored to have this opportunity."
Freeburg also boasts experience as an Assistant Coach for USA Volleyball. Since 2015, she has been aiding the program where she has served as court coach and evaluator for the USAV High Performance Program tryouts. Additionally, she worked as an apprentice coach for the 2016 Girls’ Future Select National Training Program and was an Assistant Coach for the 2016 Girls’ Youth National Team Prospect Training Block.
Following her illustrious four-year career at Florida, Freeburg immediately found her calling in the coaching ranks and earned an assistant coaching job at the Orlando Volleyball Academy. She spent three months there with the club where she coached the top 16s team along with Head Coach Joe Jablonski.
Freeburg served as team captain her senior year at Florida and led the Gators to a Southeastern Conference championship, as well as a national top-10 finish. She garnered Second Team All-SEC honors along the way.
Freeburg, who redshirted as a true freshman in 2008, played a key role on her Florida squad that advanced to four Sweet 16s and an Elite Eight, while garnering a trio of SEC titles. She also excelled in the classroom and was named to four straight SEC Fall Academic Honor Rolls (2009-12).
Freeburg's husband, Ryan, also serves as an Assistant Coach for the Bulldogs.
FREEBURG’S COLLEGE CAREER - FLORIDA
- Team Captain (2012)
- Second Team All-SEC (2012)
- One Elite Eight finish (2011)
- Four Sweet 16 finishes (2008, ’09, ’10, ’12)
- Three SEC Championships (2008, ‘10, ‘12)
- Four-time SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll (2009-12)
- SEC Freshman Honor Roll (2008)
- Recipient of the prestigious H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Post-Graduate Scholarship.
- Chairman of FLAs (2011)
- SAAC President (2011-12)
- SAAC Representative (2008-12)
- UAA Board of Directors (2011-12)
FREEBURG’S PREP CAREER - WESLEYAN (ATLANTA, GA.)
- 26th ranked recruit in 2008 class
- 2007 Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year
- 2006 and 2007 Georgia A/AA Player of the Year
- Four-time state champion
- Three-time all-state
- Junior National A2 Team Member 2006 and 2007
- Captain of the Junior National A2 team that won the European Global Challenge in Pula, Croatia
- "Circle of Honor" (Hall of Fame) inductee
