Jeanne Hess - Head Coach

The 2011 season marked the 28th volleyball campaign for Kalamazoo College head coach Jeanne Hess, whose tenure at “K” has been a very successful one.

Hess has led the Hornets to five MIAA championships and five NCAA Division III Tournament appearances. Kalamazoo has finished third or higher in the MIAA ten times.

Hess reached a personal milestone Oct. 28, 1997 when the Hornets rallied from a 2-0 deficit to win at Albion. That victory was the 100th career MIAA win for the Hornet mentor and gave her an all-time league mark of 100-68 (.595). 

She earned her 300th career victory in 1998 and 400th on Sept. 6, 2003 against Kenyon. Hess became just the second Kalamazoo College head coach to reach 500 career wins with a 3-1 victory at Albion on Oct. 4, 2011.

Through the 2010 season, Hess ranked 18th among active NCAA III coaches with 495 career wins. She ranks in the top 30 all-time among NCAA III coaches.

The Midwest Region Coach of the Year in 1990 and 1991, Hess served as the AVCA Division III representative to the Board of Directors from 2003-2008. She has previously participated in weekly voting for the American Volleyball Coaches Association National Coaches’ Poll and is a past member of the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Ranking Committee.

Hess received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, where she played varsity volleyball for four seasons (1976-80).  She earned a master’s degree in exercise science from Western Michigan University in 1985 and was inducted into WMU’s Alumni Honor Academy for Health, Physical Education and Recreation in April 2010.

In addition to coaching volleyball, Hess serves as professor in and chair of the Department of Physical Education. She is also the director of the Kalamazoo Athletic Fund. She has served as an assistant in both the women's basketball (1991-95) and softball (1996-2001) programs as well as serving as associate chaplain from 2001-2008.

Hess and her husband, Jim, reside in Kalamazoo. They have two sons, Andrew and Kevan. Andrew played baseball and earned his B.A. at the University of Michigan and was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 2007. Kevan played baseball at Western Michigan University and was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 2009.

Carrie Brankiewicz
Assistant Coach

Carrie Brankiewicz enters her seventh season as an assistant coach in 2010.

Brankiewicz graduated from Kalamazoo College in 2004 with a degree in biology and a French minor. She studied abroad in Strasbourg, France.

Brankiewicz played volleyball all four years under Coach Hess and was twice selected as a team captain. Brankiewicz earned All-MIAA second team honors in 2002, the same year the Hornets won the MIAA Tournament and advanced to the NCAA III Tournament. In 2003, Brankiewicz was selected to the All-Tournament Team at the Baldwin-Wallace Invitational and earned MIAA coaches' honorable mention honors. Just prior to graduation, Carrie was awarded the Kalamazoo College Department of Athletics "Mary Long Burch Award," presented annually to an outstanding female member of the senior class who has both manifested interest in sports activities and excelled in scholarship.

After graduating from Kalamazoo College in 2004, Carrie earned her personal trainer and group fitness instructor certifications through the American Council on Exercise and her massage therapy certification from the Kalamazoo Center for the Healing Arts. Carrie believes that participating in a health and fitness program should increase one’s body awareness and health, as well as enhance one’s quality of life. In 2007, she opened Carrie’s Fitness Studio and The Fitness Spot in downtown Kalamazoo to serve the mission of offering women and men a private, safe and supportive fitness studio in which to provide holistic, functional and complete fitness training. 

A native of Southfield, Mich. and a graduate of Farmington Hills Mercy High School, Carrie also teaches physical education courses at Kalamazoo College.

Arnis Kengis
Assistant Coach

Arnis Kengis enters his fourth season as an assistant coach in 2010.

Kengis began coaching in 1986 at Delta Community College in Bay City, Mich., where he served as the assistant coach for two years and as the head coach for one year. Kengis has also coached at the middle school, high school and college levels, and refereed at all three as well. 

Most recently, Kengis served as the head coach of the Parchment High School varsity volleyball team in Kalamazoo, Mich., compiling a record of 382-285. He led the school to three conference championships (KVA), five state district titles, five regional titles and made the state Final Four three times, winning the state championship in 2000. In addition, Kengis was named Michigan High School Coach of the Year in 2000. Many of his prior student-athletes went on to further their volleyball careers in college.

Kengis also coached with the USA Kalamazoo Elite 18 club program and currently coaches with the Dead Frog Volleyball Club in Kalamazoo.

Kengis resides in Kalamazoo and is employed as a residential and commercial building inspector with Pro-Tek Inspections, Inc. He is also a deacon and on the board of directors as the building and grounds manager with the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran United Church of Kalamazoo. He also serves on the building and improvement committee at the Latvian Center Garezers Camp in Three Rivers, Mich. In his spare time he enjoys playing volleyball, boating, snowmobiling and volunteering at the Latvian Camp.

Zach Sullivan
Graduate Assistant Coach

Zach Sullivan will work with the Hornet volleyball team as a graduate assistant coach beginning with the 2010 season.

Sullivan graduated from Western Michigan University with a bachelor's degree in aviation science and administration in 2008. He is currently a graduate student at WMU pursuing a degree in sports studies/sports administration.

Born in York, Pa. and growing up in Moultrie, Ga. and Valparaiso, Ind., Zach has been involved with sports as an athlete, coach, and official. After landing in Kalamazoo he became involved with officiating volleyball at the high school and collegiate level. Zach has worked as a coach and official in various capacities such as soccer, baseball, softball, and swimming. He enjoys helping athletes of all ages grow and develop a love for sport, healthy living, and knowledge which can be used in all aspects of life.

Zach enjoys triathlons, camping, motorcycling, traveling, building things, and playing with his dog in his free time.