When the Owls volleyball team next hits the sand, they’ll have a new woman in charge.

FAU Athletics has named Brooke Kohler as head coach of the sand volleyball program. Kohler will also function as an assistant coach for the indoor volleyball team, led by Head Coach and Director of volleyball Fernanda Nelson.

This will be Kohler’s first major coaching job, and Nelson is glad to have her aboard.

“I’m excited to welcome Brooke to the FAU volleyball family. Her passion and knowledge of the game will be a tremendous asset. I have no doubt that she will lead the sand volleyball program in the right direction,” Nelson told FAUSports.com. “Having coached Brooke as a player, we are familiar with each other and that will make it a lot easier to work together.”

Prior to coming to FAU, Kohler attended Clemson University, helping the Tigers earn two trips to the NCAA Tournament.

Soon after, Kohler transferred to Florida Gulf Coast University to pursue a graduate degree, and played for Nelson, then an assistant coach with the Eagles. Kohler led the FGCU indoor squad in total blocks in 2011 and eventually was named to the Atlantic Sun all-tournament team.

Kohler has since worked as a coach at Jupiter Elite Beach Volleyball and as a camp counselor for the Clemson volleyball camps.

FAU volleyball opens the 2013 season on Labor Day weekend, playing host to the FAU Invitational against Southeastern Louisiana University, Bethune-Cookman University and Jacksonville University on Aug. 30-31.