Bio

The 2020 season will be Samantha (Rogers) Birkicht’s fourth year as head volleyball coach at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville after serving as an assistant for five seasons. During her time with the program at UW-Platteville, Birkicht helped lead the team to three seasons with a record at or above .500, including back to back 21-win seasons in 2011 and 2012. Birkicht was described as passionate and enthusiastic, and as a coach who can recruit talent and get the best out of her players by Interim Athletic Director Mike Emendorfer.

In her third season, Birkicht led the Pioneers to a 16-14 record including seven straight victories and the UW-Platteville invitational championship.  The Pioneers also knocked off second-place UW-Stevens Point in a five-set thriller.

Prior to her return to UW-Platteville as head coach, Birkicht worked as an assistant coach with the program from 2011-15. In her first year as assistant coach in 2011, the Pioneers continued a string of eight-consecutive berths to the WIAC Tournament, where they went on to finish fourth.

Before coaching at the collegiate level, Birkicht turned around the volleyball program in the Forrest Valley School District. She guided a program from a below .500 mark to the conference title in 2010. She also served as the Freeport site director for Club Fusion from 2006-11 as well as a head coach and facility manager. In 2007, she led Aquin Catholic High School in Freeport to its first conference title in 16 years.

Birkicht graduated from UW-Platteville, where she was recognized on the High Honors Dean’s List. She has her bachelor’s degree in Physical Education. Birkicht earned her master’s degree from Emporia State University and also has an associate of arts degree from Highland Community College.