Heather Bown

C O A C H

SUNSHINE

wonder heather

heather bown

Head Coach

sunshine years

5 Years

Playing Background

Recruited by UCSB and played MB for two years, being named to the All-Big West 1st Team and ranked ninth nationally in hitting percentage
Named WAC Player of the Year in 1998 and 1999.
AVCA 1st Team All-American
NCAA Division I Blocking Leader
Played on the US National Team from 1999-2012
She was on three US Olympic teams, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, and Beijing 2008.
Earned MBA from Keller School of Management while continuing to play internationally
Inducted into the USA Volleyball Hall of Fame as an All-time Great Female Indoor Athlete

Coaching Background

Began coaching high school and club volleyball in Florida
Coached the varsity team at Cardinal Gibbons High School for two years
Coached the 16 Westside to a JO Bronze Open Division.

Coaching Philosophy

Heather’s coaching philosophy is to guide the athletes as they develop into the best versions of themselves on and off the court.

bio

About heather

Heather Bown is originally from Orange County, CA. She was recruited by UCSB and played MB for two years, being named to the All-Big West 1st Team and ranked ninth nationally in hitting percentage. After transferring to the University of Hawaii Heather was named WAC Player of the Year in 1998 and 1999. She was also an AVCA 1st Team All-American for both years. In 1999, she was the NCAA Division I Blocking Leader.

Heather played on the US National Team from 1999-2012; she was on three US Olympic teams, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, and Beijing 2008. The team won the Silver in Beijing. She earned her MBA from Keller School of Management while continuing to play internationally. In 2024 Heather was inducted into the USA Volleyball Hall of Fame as an All-time Great Female Indoor Athlete.

In 2015 after retiring from playing, Heather began coaching high school and club volleyball in Florida. She coached the varsity team at Cardinal Gibbons High School for two years. Since returning to California in 2017 and beginning to coach for Sunshine, she has coached the 16 Westside to a JO Bronze Open Division.

Heather’s coaching philosophy is to guide the athletes as they develop into the best versions of themselves on and off the court.
She loves seeing an athlete or a team have that “aha moment” of insight.

When away from the courts Heather works in the animal health industry as a Diligence and Integration Director focusing on operational excellence. Shas two fur babies, Kira and Ben, they entertain and brighten her life every day.