Rhonda Faunce begins her third full year as the Director of Athletics and Physical Education in the 2023-24 academic year. Faunce previously spent 31 seasons as the head women's volleyball coach and head softball coach at EC. A native of Great Bend, New York, Faunce earned a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from Ithaca College in 1985. Two years later she received a master’s degree from Ithaca in Teaching Behaviors and Sport Psychology. As an undergraduate, Faunce was twice named an Honorable Mention All-American in volleyball, while guiding the Bombers to two New York State championships and two NCAA appearances.
Volleyball
During her tenure with the volleyball team, Faunce coached the Soaring Eagles to three NCAA tournament appearances, an ECAC Championship, an Empire 8 Championship, and 11 New York State Women’s Collegiate Association (NYSWCAA) Tournament invitations. In 2000, Faunce earned Empire 8 Coach of the Year accolades, as well as American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Northeast Region Co-Coach of the Year honors. That same season, she was presented the prestigious NYSWCAA Service Award, given for outstanding contributions to New York State Women’s Intercollegiate Athletics.
After 31 years of coaching, Faunce amassed 614 career victories – ranking her in the Top-20 among the winningest active coaches in NCAA Division III upon the conclusion of the 2018 season. Faunce guided her team to six-straight berths into the ECAC Championship game, winning it all in 2011. She also led EC to back-to-back Empire 8 regular-season titles in 2011 and 2012.
Under Faunce’s watch, seven players earned American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Regional All-America honors. In addition, two Soaring Eagles were named Academic All-Americans and two were named NYSWCAA scholar-athletes.
Softball
Faunce's list of softball coaching achievements includes six ECAC tournament appearances, five Empire 8 Championship tournaments, and eight New York State Women’s Collegiate Association (NYSWCAA) tournament invitations. In 2000, Faunce was presented the prestigious NYSWCAA Service Award for outstanding contributions to New York State Women’s Intercollegiate Athletics.
In 2003, Faunce achieved a milestone, earning her 200th win at Elmira College. During the 2011 season, Faunce reached another benchmark, 300 career victories. She currently holds the program’s all-time record for victories with 401 in her decorated career, which also places her among the all-time winningest NCAA Division III Softball coaches.
During her tenure, 41 players earned Empire 8 All-Conference honors. She also coached several All-State selections, an NYSWCAA scholar-athlete, and an Academic All-American.
