Former state representative Sandy Hamilton returning as SHG volleyball coach
There couldn’t have been many questions as Sandy Hamilton sat down with Sacred Heart-Griffin brass to interview for the open varsity volleyball head coach job.
If she wanted to, Hamilton could’ve simply applied by handing in her resume, but even SHG administration knew what they had in the candidate.
After three seasons away, Hamilton is back. Hamilton, who coached the Cyclones for eight seasons from 2013-21, went 196-56 and won Class 3A regional championships in 2014-15 and 2017.
“She’s a winner,” said SHG assistant principal and athletics director Bob Brenneisen. “She’s been a winner her whole life, whether it’s been in college or coaching here in high school. We wanted somebody who was going to put SHG volleyball on the map again. She’s a proven success, and she’s won several regionals here with us and she comes committed.”
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Hamilton guided SHG to seven 20-win seasons. The only time her team didn’t reach that mark was in 2021 when SHG played an abbreviated schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic and finished 16-4.
Hamilton was appointed as an Illinois state representative for the 99th district in 2021 and served out the rest of Mike Murphy’s term. She ran for the 48th Senate District in 2022 but lost to Doris Turner.
Hamilton, who could not be reached for this story, played volleyball at the University of Illinois and helped the Illini to three Big Ten Conference championships. Illinois advanced to the volleyball Final Four in 1987 and 1988.
“Our kids have done well and they’re going to continue to do well,” Brenneisen said. “With Sandy, you have that experience of what it takes to win, and we make no apologies for wanting to win.”
Casey Widholm coached SHG in the fall of 2021 before Kellee Phillips took over the last two seasons. Phillips was hired as the Lincoln Land Community College women's volleyball coach in December to create the opening filled by Hamilton.
This story will be updated.
Contact Ryan Mahan: 788-1546, ryan.mahan@sj-r.com, Twitter.com/RyanMahanSJR.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Sandy Hamilton re-hired three years after stepping down as SHG coach
