Christy Pfeffenberger Staff

Christy Pfeffenberger was named assistant volleyball coach at the University of Notre Dame in July of 2011, after three seasons as an assistant at Xavier. Pfeffenberger worked with the Irish for three seasons before leaving to take a similar position with the Musketeers in the spring of 2014.

With the Irish, Pfeffenberger worked primarily with the outside hitters, but also helped mentor the right sides, the middle blockers and the defense.

In her second season in 2012, Pfeffenberger worked with honorable mention All-American Toni Alugbue as the sophomore made an impressive move from the middle to the outside.

Pfeffenberger also helped tutor honorable mention All-American Jeni Houser and an Irish defense that led the BIG EAST in blocks as they advanced to both the BIG EAST and NCAA Championships. A year later, Houser earned another honorable mention All-America certificate in becoming the first Irish player to earn all-Atlantic Coast Conference honors.

After the 2012 season Pfeffenberger was included in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Thirty Under 30 list, which showcases up-and-coming professionals in volleyball. The honor was the second of her career.

In Pfeffenberger[apos]s first campaign with Notre Dame, she helped oversee the final season of second team all-BIG EAST performer Kristen Dealy as the Irish advanced to the BIG EAST Championship match for the 14th time.

An Indianapolis native, Pfeffenberger spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Xavier prior to coming to Notre Dame and was promoted to associate head coach following the 2010 campaign. She helped lead the Musketeers to a 56-36 overall record and a 31-12 mark in Atlantic 10 Conference play during her tenure with the program.

Pfeffenberger made her mark on every aspect of the Musketeer program, earning the AVCA[apos]s Thirty under 30 honor for the first time.

Pfeffenberger went to Xavier after spending two seasons as an assistant under Joe Bonner at Youngstown State. She worked with all aspects of the team including managing the outside attackers, breaking down film, recruiting, academics, travel plans and several other aspects as well.

Before her time at Youngstown State, Pfeffenberger served as an assistant coach at her alma mater, Dayton, under former head coach Tim Horsman. She was a part of the Dayton staff for the 2005 season and helped with recruiting, scouting, academics and practice plans in addition to assisting with summer camps (an endeavor she also headed at Xavier).

Pfeffenberger has also served in several other capacities within the volleyball community as a summer and winter camp coach, individual instructor, certified junior national referee and a Junior Olympic coach.

During her playing days at Dayton, Pfeffenberger garnered several Atlantic 10 and national accolades in addition to participating on two NCAA Tournament teams. She was named the A-10 Player of the Year in 2004 and earned AVCA All-America honors that year as well.

Pfeffenberger was named to the CoSIDA District IV All-American Third Team and also garnered A-10 Academic All-Conference accolades in 2004. She is a 2005 graduate of Dayton with a bachelor[apos]s degree in education.

A standout prep athlete in the Hoosier State, Pfeffenberger led Roncalli High School to a trio of state titles (two in softball, one in volleyball) while four times being named all-state and all-city (Indianapolis). She was the state[apos]s volleyball player of the year in 2000.

The former Christy Utnage was married to Nick Pfeffenberger during the summer of 2010. The couple has two daughters, Caroline, born in September 2012, and Alexa, born in May 2014.