Dr. Amber Warners

Biography

Meet Amber Warners

Amber Warners is in her 11th year as head coach of the Calvin volleyball program.  She also served as interim head volleyball coach at Hope College in 1994.  Heading into her 12thyear as a head collegiate volleyball coach, Warners has compiled an impressive won-loss record of 316-68 for a winning percentage of .823 that ranks her second among active NCAA III coaches for winning percentage. In 10 years as Calvin’s head coach, she has compiled a won-loss record of 295-57 for a winning percentage of .838.

In 2010, she led Calvin to its first-ever NCAA III title in women's volleyball as the Knights defeated top-ranked Emory University in four sets. She was later named the 2010 AVCA Division III National Coach of the Year.

She has led Calvin to seven consecutive berths in the NCAA III Tournament including appearances in the Great Lakes Regional finals in 2005, 2006 and 2010. In 2010, Calvin captured the regional title with an upset win over second-ranked Wittenberg University. In 2006, she was named Great Lakes Regional Coach of the Year by the American Volleyball Coaches Association after leading Calvin to a 34-2 record. In 2008, she was once again named Great Lakes Regional Coach of the Year after leading a youthful Calvin team to a record of 26-5 including an NCAA III Tournament bid. She landed her third Great Lakes Regional Coach of the Year honor in 2011 after leading Calvin to a 33-1 record which included a number-one national ranking throughout the regular season.

Warners has led Calvin to NCAA III Tournament appearances in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011and to MIAA Tournament titles in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2011. She has also led Calvin to MIAA regular season titles in 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2011.

Warners picked up her 200th collegiate victory in a five-set victory over Carnegie-Mellon University on August 30, 2008, at the Ohio Northern Invitational. She picked up her 300th collegiate victory in a win at Albion College on October 7, 2011.

A 1990 Calvin graduate, Warners is a former two-sport standout for Calvin in volleyball and softball.  As a softball player, Warners was a member of six Calvin teams that captured MIAA Championships -- three in softball and three in volleyball.  Calvin also earned six NCAA III tournament bids -- three each in softball and volleyball.  She was a member of Calvin softball teams finished fifth in the nation in 1989 and fourth in 1990, and a member of the Calvin volleyball team that finished second nationally in 1986.  As a volleyball player, she was twice named the league’s MVP as a setter and was named to the All-MIAA first team three times.  As a softball player, she was an outfielder.

Warners earned her master's degree from Michigan State University in sports psychology in 1996 She recently completed her Ph.D requirements at Michigan State.  As a Calvin senior, Warners was honored with the Kay Tiemersma Award, an award presented annually to the varsity women's athlete who best exemplifies athletic ability, scholastic standing, and character and leadership.

Warners previously taught at Holland Christian High School where she coached softball and volleyball.  In 1994, she guided the Maroons to the Class B Volleyball State Championship game.  Warners also served as the interim head volleyball coach at Hope College in 1994, compiling a 21-11 record. 

Warners has also served an eight-year tenure as Calvin’s softball coach where she led the Knights to pair of NCAA III Tournament berths. In 1997, she took Calvin all the way to the NCAA III Softball World Series where she was honored as Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year.

She and her husband Mark have three sons: Emmett, Carson and Tanner. Also a Calvin graduate, Mark is a teacher at Grand Rapids Christian High School.