Eysha Ambler will continue to serve as an Assistant Coach under the program’s new leadership of Ryan Theis.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – University of Florida’s head volleyball coach, Ryan Theis announced on Wednesday that Eysha Ambler will remain on staff as an Assistant Coach for the 2025 season.
The talented, hardworking coach and recruiter with over 17 years of experience at the highest levels enters her fifth season at Florida and her first under the new leadership of Theis.
Ambler joins the assistant coaching team of Abby Gilleland<https://floridagators.com/staff-directory/abby-gilleland/3428> and Ryan Walthall<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/coaches/ryan-walthall/2045>, who came on board with Theis from Marquette in February.
They Said:
“I’m incredibly blessed and grateful for the opportunity to continue with Florida Volleyball. I want to thank Ryan for believing in me and allowing me to be part of this new chapter. I’m excited to work alongside him and the rest of the staff as we continue building on the incredible tradition that’s already been established here in Gainesville.”
Eysha Amber<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/coaches/eysha-ambler/1810>, University of Florida Assistant Volleyball Coach
“Eysha is a true professional and an amazing person. We are excited in both her willingness to stay and all of the help she has been able to provide us through the transition.”
Ryan Theis<https://floridagators.com/staff-directory/ryan-theis/3426>, University of Florida Head Volleyball Coach
Along with Ambler, the volleyball support staff will remain the same as well.
Support Staff:
Keith Saito
Technical Coordinator
Jessi Smith
Strength & Conditioning Coordinator
Aubrey Wright
Athletic Trainer
Lauren Perez
Senior Performance Dietitian
Jackie Hensel
Director of Operations
Caroline Neale
Assistant Director of Operations
Coaching Career:
At Florida:
In the 2024 season, Ambler was part of the Gators Sweet 16 run in 2024 after earning the program’s 34th-consecutive NCAA Tournament bid, which is the third-longest active streak in the nation. Under Ambler’s leadership, the Gators garners a lengthy resume of post-season honors at the conference and national level. Kennedy Martin was named an AVCA First-Team All-American, the first for the program since 2017. Martin etched her name in the program record book in multiple categories during the season and was the NCAA’s Points Per Set Champion after ranking first with her 6.28 average. She became the first Florida player to be named AVCA All-Southeast Region Player of the Year, taking home AVCA All-Southeast Region First Team honors as well. Martin was a semifinalist for AVCA’s 2024 Division I Player of the Year Award and was voted to the Louisville Region All-Tournament Team.
Jeala Auguste also received an AVCA major award, being named Southeast Region Freshman of the Year. Auguste also became the seventh Gator in history to claim the SEC Freshman of the Year award. She joined Taylor Parks on the SEC All-Freshman Team and Elli McKissock on the SEC All-Second Team as well. McKissock garnered All-Region honors, with Parks and Isabel Martin earning All-Region Honorable Mention.
Ambler’s guidance and commitment to excellence was also evident in the Gators academic performance, posting a 100% graduation success rate. Martin received accolades for her success in the classroom as well, earning the program’s eighth ever CSC Academic All-America recognition, fifth to ever received First-Team honors.
During the 2023 season, Ambler helped guide Florida to their 33rd consecutive NCAA Tournament, the third-longest active streak in the nation. Florida set a new program record on Sept. 17, with 10,323 fans in the stands of the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. It is not only an O’Dome record, but also is the highest-attended match hosted by an SEC school all-time. It is also the highest attendance for an on-campus volleyball match in the state of Florida. She tutored All-American Kennedy Martin, who earned a spot on Second Team. The freshman was also named to AVCA All-Region and All-SEC. The Gators finished the 2023 campaign ranked in the Top-20 in the nation in blocks per set (19th | 2.68) total blocks (20th | 303.0). The Gators were second in the SEC in blocks per set, making it the 11th out of the last 13 seasons that the Gators have been among the Top-3 in the conference in blocks per set.
During the 2022 campaign, Ambler helped lead the Gators to their 29th Regional Semifinal after grabbing a 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament. It was Florida’s 32nd consecutive NCAA Tournament, the third-longest active streak in the nation. In her second season with the squad, the Gators finished 25-6 overall and 15-3 in the league en route to the team’s 25th SEC Championship. That mark is the third-best total in the entire conference among all sports since volleyball’s inception into the SEC in 1979. Ambler tutored two AVCA All-Americans, with both Marina Markova and Alexis Stucky earning a spot on the Third Team. She also tutored four AVCA All-Region selections, along with three All-SEC honorees. Florida finished the 2022 season ranked in the Top-20 in the nation in blocks per set (10th | 2.73), opponent hitting percentage (10th | .158), hitting percentage (19th | .272) and total blocks (19th | 309.0).
During the 2021 campaign, Ambler helped lead the Gators to their 28th Regional Semifinal after grabbing the No. 16 seed in the NCAA Tournament. It was Florida’s 31st consecutive NCAA Tournament, the third-longest active streak in the nation. In her first season with the team, the Gators finished the year 22-9, with a 14-4 record in the SEC. Ambler tutored three All-Americans, including Second Team honoree Marlie Monserez, along with six SEC selections. Florida finished the 2021 season ranked in the Top-10 in both assists per set (7th | 13.22) and hitting percentage (8th | .290), while sitting in the Top-20 in both kills per set (14th | 14.08) and blocks per set (19th | 2.63).
“The University of Florida is a special place with a strong volleyball tradition,” said Ambler. “So, I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to join Coach Wise and the Gator family. I am proud to be a part of a program with such a rich history of success, not only in the SEC, but on a national level. I pride myself on being a hard worker, building relationships and mentoring young women. It is an honor to get to do what I love with Mary and Dave and the entire Florida Volleyball program. I am ready to get to Gainesville, officially meet the team and get to work!”
At TCU:
Ambler spent the 2020-21 season in Fort Worth, Texas, serving as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for TCU. She tutored two players to All-Big 12 Second Team honors during the 2020-21 season.
At Auburn:
Ambler spent nine seasons at fellow SEC school Auburn, where she served as both the assistant coach and the recruiting coordinator. While with the Tigers, she recruited the seventh-ranked recruiting class in the nation in 2018, the highest ranked class in program history. She also helped recruit and coach Jesse Earl, the first AVCA All-American in program history.
At Pitt:
Ambler spent the previous two years as an assistant at the University of Pittsburgh. While at Pittsburgh, Ambler primarily worked with the Panthers’ middle blockers. During her first season with the team, Pitt ranked 38th in the country in hitting percentage with a .247 mark. Ambler also mentored middle hitter Meagan Dooley, who became the program’s third AVCA All-American.
Ambler also organized team travel, summer camps, managed the budget and monitored the academics and eligibility of the squad while at Pitt.
At Tennessee State:
Ambler spent five years at Tennessee State, where she helped lead the Lady Tigers to a pair of OVC titles and the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance.
During her time at TSU, she also served as recruiting coordinator and volleyball operations director. She was instrumental in aiding the students with their academic progress and helping them develop quality tutorial programs, while organizing and balancing the volleyball program’s budget.
At Jacksonville:
She spent two seasons at Jacksonville State as a graduate assistant. At JSU, she monitored the academic progress of student-athletes, organized travel and film exchange and managed home tournament and match activities for the volleyball team.
Club Coaching:
She worked as the head coach at the Pittsburgh Elite Volleyball Club from 2009-11 and the Nashville One Volleyball Club from 2008-09, while also serving as an assistant with the Impact Volleyball Club (2008).
Ambler’s Volleyball Career:
Ambler played two years on the Jacksonville State volleyball squad after transferring from Northwest-Shoals Community College. At JSU, she made her mark in the history books as the all-time single-season leader for blocks per game (1.7). She finished her career ranked fourth (92) and seventh (72) in block assists in a single season and third in solo blocks (31) in a single season.
Ambler was the first three-sport letterman at Jacksonville State dating back to 1985, earning letters in basketball, track and field and volleyball. She graduated from JSU in 2001 with a B.S. in business management and later earned a B.S. in education in 2004.
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