Sand Volleyball Adds Haneef-Park to Staff

TUCSON, Ariz. – The Arizona sand volleyball team has added Olympian Tayyiba Haneef-Park to its staff, head coach Steve Walker announced on Thursday. Haneef-Park will serve as Walker’s assistant coach.

Haneef-Park brings an abundance of international experience, competing in three Olympic Games with the USA indoor team. Haneef-Park helped the 2008 and 2012 teams take home silver medals. She also helped Team USA win silver in the 2002 World Championship in Germany and the 2011 FIVB World Cup in Japan.

“I am very excited about having someone with Tayyiba’s volleyball background on staff,” said Walker. “She will have a great impact on our program in every way imaginable. Tayyiba will easily be able to relate to the players as she has played the game at the highest of levels collegiately and internationally. The players, knowing full well she was a three-time Olympian, have already taken to her ability to teach and her attention to details. She has been a great addition and I look forward to working with her as we enter our second seasons as a program.” 

Haneef-Park attended Long Beach State University, where she was a first-team AVCA All-American as a senior, leading the 49ers to a 33-1 record and a runner-up finish at the 2001 NCAA Championship. She registered 5.03 kills/set while hitting .406 for the season.

“I am honored to be a part of the strong tradition of athletic and academic success of the University of Arizona,” said Haneef-Park. “Sand Volleyball is one of the fastest growing collegiate sports and I am excited to be a part of its history.  My goal is to use my Olympic experience to help develop our women into some of the best Sand Volleyball players in the nation.”

Additionally, Haneef-Park was a three-time All-American high jumper at LBSU and competed at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials, finishing 10th with a jump of 5-10 3/4. She was inducted into the Long Beach State Hall of Fame on November 19, 2008.

At Arizona, Haneef-Park’s prestigious and illustrious athletic background will make an immediate impact on the recruiting trails. She is well traveled thanks to her volleyball career, allowing her to establish wide recruiting roots.

“Not only will we be able to continue our search for top prospects in the usual talent rich areas,” said Walker. “But now we will really be able to expand our boundaries.”

For continued coverage of Arizona sand volleyball, visit ArizonaWildcats.com and be sure to follow the team on Twitter (@ArizonaSandVB).