A former All-American with extensive playing and coaching experience in the United States and internationally, Thais Franca was announced as the new University of Mary head volleyball coach on Dec. 4, 2014.
A native of Santos, Brazil, Franca returned to collegiate coaching in the spring of 2014 when she moved to Bismarck, N.D., as the Marauders assistant coach. While working in her home country since 2010, she was a volunteer volleyball assistant coach for Prefeitura Municipal de Cubatão from 2011-13.
“With her success on the court as a player, her coaching background and international experiences, we look forward to the direction Thais Franca can take the Marauders volleyball program,” said University of Mary Athletic Director Roger Thomas. “During her time on campus, Thais has demonstrated an ability to lead and teach. She will be a strong role model for our student-athletes.”
“I am so very thankful for this opportunity,” said Franca. “It is a blessing to work with these young women. We have a big challenge in front of us but through hard work I believe we can turn the program around. I wish to thank everyone for the support I have received since coming to the University of Mary and making this community feel like home.”
Franca started her collegiate coaching at St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg, N.C., during the 2009 season. Franca was promoted to head coach following the season.
Prior to St. Andrews, she was a volunteer coach for Illinois State University volleyball camps. Her experience as a camp coach extends all the way back to 2004, when she first volunteered for Hutchinson Community College. She also worked for camps hosted by Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers Volleyball Academy Club, the Tri-State Elite Volleyball Camp, and California University of Pennsylvania.
Franca earned her master’s degree in exercise science and health promotion in 2009 at California University of Pennsylvania while also working as a graduate assistant for the strength and conditioning program and a practice coach for the volleyball team. Before that, she earned her bachelor’s of science degree in resort and hospitality management from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2008.
She is currently certified with the USA Impact Volleyball Program with increased mastery and professional application of coaching theory.
As a collegiate player at three different schools, Franca’s teams posted a combined record of 149-17 in four seasons.
Franca came to the United States in 2004 and competed at Hutchinson (Kansas) Community College for two seasons. In her freshman year the Blue Dragons posted a mark of 43-1, earned a conference and regional championship, and placed fifth at the NJCAA national tournament. As a sophomore in 2005, the Blue Dragons finished 37-11, repeated as conference and region champions and placed 8th at the NJCAA national tournament. While at Hutchinson she earned All-Conference, All-Region and All-American honors. She also earned honor roll recognition.
The winning continued for Franca at Florida Gulf Coast University, where the team finished 29-3 and claimed second in the NCAA Division II South region in 2006.
Franca concluded her collegiate career at California University of Pennsylvania, leading the Vulcans to a record of 40-2 in 2008, winning the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference title and an NCAA Division II Atlantic region championship while reaching the national semifinals. She received all-conference and all-region honors for her efforts.
Before coming to the U.S. she played in various Brazilian clubs dating back to 1993. The most recent was at Prefeitura Municipal de Santos/Unimonte in Santos, Brazil, before that was with Prefeitura Municipal de Cubatão in Cubatão, Brazil. From 1996 to 2000 she played in Projeto Futuro in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and her first career team was with BCN Guaruja in Guaruja, Brazil.
