Volleyball: In her first year as Pitt’s assistant coach, Ambler focusing on recruiting

As the Pitt women’s volleyball team tries to develop into an NCAA Tournament regular, it needs… As the Pitt women’s volleyball team tries to develop into an NCAA Tournament regular, it needs not only great players and coaching, but great recruiting.

Luckily for Pitt, it has that with assistant coach Eysha Ambler.

Pitt coach Toby Rens hired Ambler this July as one of two Pitt assistant coaches.

Rens discovered Ambler because of recruiting competitions they’ve had in the past.

“I’ve recruited against her,” Rens said, “She always recruited by herself really well.”

Ambler’s value to Pitt will be felt most along the recruiting trail, where she started assisting Pitt this summer.

“I am in the junior college area and the South, around Alabama and Georgia,” Ambler said, “A lot of good players come out of there.”

To her, recruiting is an aspect of coaching that she enjoys.

“I enjoy it, but sometimes the travel is kind of tough,” Ambler said. “But it sure pays off in the long run.”

Ambler is in her first year with Pitt after a five-year stint with Tennessee State University. During her tenure as an assistant coach, Ambler led the Lady Tigers to two Ohio Valley Conference titles and the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance. During her time, she served as recruiting coordinator and volleyball operations director, and she aided students with their academic progress.

Ambler is somewhat of a legend at her alma mater, Jacksonville State University. By the time she graduated in 2001, Ambler was the school’s first three-sport letterman since 1985. She earned letters in basketball, track and field and volleyball.

“Basketball was my first love. I played volleyball and basketball in junior college, and in high school, I ran track,” Ambler said, “So when I got to JSU, my junior year I played volleyball, my senior year I played volleyball and basketball and my fifth year I did track.”

Some might ask how she balanced all of those responsibilities on top of class work. For Ambler, she boiled down her options to two choices while off the court: gym or class.

It wasn’t something Rens overlooked.

“Her experience level as a player and coach helps her to relate to the players and assist them in their process of being a student-athlete,” Rens said.

Ambler mostly handles responsibilities on the business side of the program, such as dealing with recruiting, team travel and game day operations. But Ambler also works directly with the middle blockers in practices.

“She’s helpful in so many different areas,” Rens said. “Recruiting is definitely one of the things she does really well, but she’s very well-respected and received by the team and has a really great positive energy to her. She’s a really great example for all the players on the team.”

Even for someone moving from the South to the Northeast for the first time, Ambler said she’s adjusting pretty well.

“It was a little tough because Tennessee is pretty flat,” Ambler said. “But it’s so beautiful here. I’m only scared of when it’s time for snow.”

Ambler said it’s easier than some would think to recruit players from the South to Pitt, mostly because of the school’s academic reputation.

“Kids from the South will come here just because you can’t go wrong with this school,” Ambler said.

Rens is easy to compliment Ambler’s personality and work ethic in her immediate success at Pitt.

“She’s a lot of fun to be around and really complements me well,” Rens said. “She’s an integral part of the staff. She’s someone you enjoy working with and has an incredible work ethic and great perspective on things.”