Brenau Selects Kalmink as Head Volleyball Coach

(Story provided by Brenau Communications Office)

GAINESVILLE, Ga. - Brenau University's Ernest Ledford Grindle Athletics Department has hired Emily Kalmink as the new director of volleyball.

The indoor volleyball team is one of Brenau's longest-standing sports teams, and a beach volleyball team was established in the spring of 2025.

Kalmink comes to Brenau from Tusculum University in Greenville, Tennessee, where she was the head coach of the beach volleyball team.

"We are thrilled to welcome Emily to the Golden Tiger family as our new director of volleyball and head coach for both our indoor and beach programs," Michael Lochstampfor, vice president of athletics, said. "With her extensive background as both an elite National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics player and an experienced coach in both arenas, she is uniquely qualified for this role. I am confident her leadership will elevate our established indoor team and accelerate the growth of our newly formed beach program."

Also at Tusculum, Kalmink organized the Greeneville Beach Pairs Challenge, which hosted more than 40 pairs of volleyball players from eight universities, and led and managed all aspects of the beach volleyball program. Prior to Tusculum, Kalmink served as the assistant beach volleyball coach at Saint Leo University in Florida from 2021 to 2024.

"I am incredibly excited to step into the role of director of volleyball at Brenau University. This is a program with a strong tradition of success on the indoor side and tremendous potential for continued growth on the beach side," Kalmink said. "The indoor team is coming off an outstanding season and returns a talented core of key contributors, providing an excellent foundation for the future. I look forward to building on that success, expanding the program's impact, and creating new opportunities for our student-athletes to excel both on and off the court."

Kalmink earned her master's degree in sports management from the University of Florida and her bachelor's degree in communications from Southeastern University. Kalmink played volleyball at Southeastern for two seasons and at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, for two years.

Brenau's varsity athletic programs are housed within The Women's College, and only Women's College students are offered the opportunity to participate in intercollegiate athletics. Brenau is a member of the NAIA and the Appalachian Athletic Conference.