Five years as a collegiate player and six as an assistant coach culminated in Claire Lessinger being named the 10th head coach in USF volleyball history on March 18, 2004.

Lessinger, who enters her seventh year at the helm of the USF volleyball program in 2010, has battled to transform the program into BIG EAST Champion contenders, leading the Bulls to back-to-back-to-back BIG EAST Conference tournament appearances, including a third-place showing in 2007.

The keys to her success are the combination of her playing experience at one of the top programs in the country - the University of Florida - mixed with her wealth of coaching experience.

"It has taken time, energy, patience, and the right personnel to get this program back on track," said Lessinger.  "I am fortunate to have one of the best staffs in the country and a team filled with committed student-athletes.  We realize that expectations follow success and that the targets on our back continue to grow.  We have players and coaches that are constantly motivated to exceed expectations.  The 2009 squad is talented, experienced, and focused, and we will rely heavily on team chemistry to reach our goals for the season."
     
One of the most important coaching traits Lessinger prides herself in is developing players. In her first season alone, Lessinger guided rookie Kristina Fabris to become one of the most dynamic players on the court for the Bulls, as she earned 2007 All BIG-EAST Second Team honors. Sophomore Alli Arbogast, who didn't play her freshman year, led the Bulls in blocks per set, finished 2nd in the BIG EAST and 10th nationally in blocks per game, and broke the single season record for total block assists. In 2006, Lessinger helped transform Marcela Gurgel into one of the top offensive players in the BIG EAST, and the rookie earned first-team All-BIG EAST honors.  Gurgel then went on to gain a spot on the All-BIG EAST First-Team again while also being recognized as a member of the Northeast All-Region Team and an AVCA honorable mention All-American during her sophomore campaign.

"Individual success comes from team success.  We have some spotlight talent on our team and I credit their accomplishments to drive and confidence.  As coaches we can only help players get better if they want to be better.  I am very fortunate to coach players that have the right approach and mentality to their personal and team development," said Lessinger.

After taking over a USF squad that went 12-20 in 2003, Lessinger has slowly brought in talented young players to compliment her system, including international players with tremendous experience who have competed around the world and have diverse skills.  In 2007, Lessinger guided the team to a 19-10 record, the most wins for the program since she has been at the helm.

An attitude of hard work and determination is something that Lessinger promotes among her players as they strive to compete at the highest level in the BIG EAST. Her system and her way of doing things has helped breed competitors that are successful on and off the court.

She stresses to her players the importance of fulfilling the term "student" first and foremost and motivated her team to excel in the classroom. In July 2007, her team was rewarded for its efforts off the court and earned The GamePlan/AVCA Team Academic Award for maintaining a GPA of 3.30 for the entire academic year. They were also recognized as the USF team with the highest GPA for 2006-2007.

Lessinger was no stranger to USF when she took over the head coaching role. She was an assistant under former head coach Nancy Mueller and helped lead USF volleyball to two Conference USA regular-season championships (2000 and 2002), a C-USA tournament title (2002) and two trips to the NCAA tournament (2000 and 2002). In her five years as an assistant with the program, the Bulls amassed a record of 106-60 (.639), including a 48-18 (.727) mark at home.

Originally a middle blocker who was forced to play defensive specialist after several knee surgeries, Lessinger has worked with USF's middle blockers since joining the Bulls in 1999, and most of her athletes have received individual recognition for their accomplishments. Rachelle Paul and Shameka Mitchell were first-team selections in 2000 and 2003, respectively, Kristina Fabris earned second-team accolades in 2007, and Bonnye Glover was named third team in 2002. Rachel Jobes and Mitchell were on the all-freshman team in 2001 while Fabris earned the accolade in 2004 as well. Alli Arbogast, in 2007, was ranked nationally in blocks per set and broke the record at USF for block assists in a season.

In the summer of 2007, Lessinger added to her coaching repertoire and took the Bulls on their first ever foreign tour to Brazil. In only a month after USF's Brazilian tour, she took on coaching responsibilities for a U-20 USA Select Team as it competed in Italy.

"I have had the opportunity to play and now coach internationally.  I see tremendous benefits to the players and the team from this type of unique experience," said Lessinger. "I look forward to experiencing another foreign tour with USF Volleyball in 2011."

In addition, Lessinger is also the current president of the Big East Coaches Association, a member of the AVCA Northeast All-Region committee and serves on the A&P council at USF.

A native of the Tampa Bay area, Lessinger played volleyball at the University of Florida from 1993-97 and helped lead the Gators to five consecutive SEC titles and three trips to the Final Four.  She was also with the team when the program received its first-ever recognition as the nation's No. 1 team.

Hampered by knee injuries much of her career, Lessinger worked herself into one of the best defensive specialists in the country.  In honor of her hard work and dedication as a player, the UF volleyball program established the "Claire Roach Defensive Award," which is presented annually to the best defensive player.  In 1996, she was named the "Best Defensive Specialist in the Country" by Collegiate Volleyball Updates.

"I was very fortunate to be given the opportunity to play at the University of Florida under Mary Wise, who is the most highly-respected female coach in the country," Lessinger said.  "She is the ultimate motivator and makes you thrive on success. Playing for the Gators allowed me to know what it takes to be a champion, and I try to instill those values in our USF players daily.

Lessinger's athletic career began well before even attending college. A three-sport standout at Clearwater Central Catholic High School in volleyball, basketball and softball, she was inducted into her high school Hall of Fame - the inaugural class - on May 5, 2001.  She was named the Tampa Tribune's 1992 High School Athlete of the Year and the 1993 High School Female Athlete of the Year.

Lessinger graduated from Florida in 1997 with a bachelor of science degree in exercise and sports science with a concentration in sports management.

Before coming to USF, Lessinger was an assistant volleyball coach at Boston College for the 1998 season.

Lessinger and her husband Mike, who were married in January 2004, and son Tyler, live in Tampa.