Sports
University of Utah Athletics
SALT LAKE CITY — University of Utah volleyball head coach Beth Launiere announced today that former All-American Whitney Bower has joined her staff as director of scouting and player personnel. A three-time All-America honoree during her playing career at BYU, Bower joins Launiere’s staff after serving in assistant coaching roles in both collegiate and club […]
SALT LAKE CITY — University of Utah volleyball head coach Beth Launiere announced today that former All-American Whitney Bower has joined her staff as director of scouting and player personnel. A three-time All-America honoree during her playing career at BYU, Bower joins Launiere’s staff after serving in assistant coaching roles in both collegiate and club volleyball.
“We couldn’t be more excited to have Whitney join our staff,” Launiere said. “She has played the game at a high level both collegiately and professionally, has a high volleyball IQ, and is a person that will fit into the culture of our program. Whitney will be a great asset to help our players develop as athletes and people, and will help us immensely on the work we do to prepare our team for competition.”
Bower began her college coaching career last season as an assistant coach at College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls. She has also assisted her former club, Idaho Crush Volleyball, in a variety of roles, including as an assistant coach of the club’s elite teams. Last year she helped guide the club’s 15s team to a National Championship at USAV’s Junior Olympics.
“I’m incredibly honored and grateful for the opportunity to join an elite program in the Big 12 Conference and I look forward to contributing to the continued success of Utah Volleyball,” Bower said. “I’m excited to learn from an exceptional coaching staff, and Beth Launiere, a volleyball legend. I’m especially excited to be part of the Utes community and the opportunity to work with their exceptional student-athletes. Go Utes!”
Bower was a three-time All-American and earned multiple AVCA Southwest All-Region honors as well as All-Big 12 first-team selection. She also earned West Coast Conference Player of the Year and Setter of the Year honors before BYU switched to the Big 12.
She finished her collegiate career as the all-time rally scoring era assists record holder, tallying 4,583 assists. She also is first all time in the BYU record books in sets played, second in service aces and third in total digs.
Bower was drafted to the Professional Volleyball Federation’s Atlanta Vibe as the ninth overall pick ahead of the 2024 season. She helped the Vibe to a 19-5 regular season record, giving Atlanta the first Professional Volleyball Federation regular season championship.
A native of Nampa, Idaho, Bower was one of Idaho’s most decorated volleyball players as a setter at Skyview High School, leading the Hawks to back-to-back state championships. A two-time PrepVolleyball.com High School All-American and a top-50 junior recruit by PrepVolleyball.com, Bower left high school a year early to begin her competitive college career as a 17-year-old at BYU in 2019, the same year that Utah assistant coach Wil Stanley was the starting setter for the Cougars’ men’s team.
Bower comes from a volleyball family. Among her six sisters, three have played collegiate volleyball, including Eden Bower (Auburn) and Alex Bower (BYU).
“We couldn’t be more excited to have Whitney join our staff,” Launiere said. “She has played the game at a high level both collegiately and professionally, has a high volleyball IQ, and is a person that will fit into the culture of our program. Whitney will be a great asset to help our players develop as athletes and people, and will help us immensely on the work we do to prepare our team for competition.”
Bower began her college coaching career last season as an assistant coach at College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls. She has also assisted her former club, Idaho Crush Volleyball, in a variety of roles, including as an assistant coach of the club’s elite teams. Last year she helped guide the club’s 15s team to a National Championship at USAV’s Junior Olympics.
“I’m incredibly honored and grateful for the opportunity to join an elite program in the Big 12 Conference and I look forward to contributing to the continued success of Utah Volleyball,” Bower said. “I’m excited to learn from an exceptional coaching staff, and Beth Launiere, a volleyball legend. I’m especially excited to be part of the Utes community and the opportunity to work with their exceptional student-athletes. Go Utes!”
Bower was a three-time All-American and earned multiple AVCA Southwest All-Region honors as well as All-Big 12 first-team selection. She also earned West Coast Conference Player of the Year and Setter of the Year honors before BYU switched to the Big 12.
She finished her collegiate career as the all-time rally scoring era assists record holder, tallying 4,583 assists. She also is first all time in the BYU record books in sets played, second in service aces and third in total digs.
Bower was drafted to the Professional Volleyball Federation’s Atlanta Vibe as the ninth overall pick ahead of the 2024 season. She helped the Vibe to a 19-5 regular season record, giving Atlanta the first Professional Volleyball Federation regular season championship.
A native of Nampa, Idaho, Bower was one of Idaho’s most decorated volleyball players as a setter at Skyview High School, leading the Hawks to back-to-back state championships. A two-time PrepVolleyball.com High School All-American and a top-50 junior recruit by PrepVolleyball.com, Bower left high school a year early to begin her competitive college career as a 17-year-old at BYU in 2019, the same year that Utah assistant coach Wil Stanley was the starting setter for the Cougars’ men’s team.
Bower comes from a volleyball family. Among her six sisters, three have played collegiate volleyball, including Eden Bower (Auburn) and Alex Bower (BYU).