For Immediate Release: Wednesday, August 28, 2002
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Director of Athletic Media Relations, (956) 381-2240

ULAS OGRAK JOINS UTPA VOLLEYBALL COACHING STAFF

EDINBURG, TX- A doctoral candidate at The University of Texas-Pan American with high-level volleyball experience in his native land is the newest member of the Lady Bronc volleyball coaching staff.

Ulas Ograk (pronounced OO-lash OH-grak) will join the staff of Head Coach Dave Thorn this season.

A native of Izmir, Turkey, Ograk attended St. Joseph High School, then earned a Bachelor of Arts in Maritime Business at 9 Eylul, a college in Turkey, in 1998. A friend of Ograk’s father teaches at Texas-Pan American, and Ograk moved to Texas, earned a Master of Business Administration degree in May, 2000, and is now enrolled in the doctoral program.

An outside hitter for both his high school and university volleyball teams, Ograk served as team captain as a senior, helping lead his team to a ranking of sixth in the nation. During his sophomore season, his team was ranked third in Turkey.

”I’m very excited to have someone of Ulas’ talent and experience helping with our program,” said Thorn. “He will help make our practices more intense and competitive.”

VB-02-03 082802