Updated: May 9, 2025
After joining the program in January 2022 and serving as assistant coach for three seasons, Kenzie Brinkman was named interim head coach in May 2025.
As an assistant coach, Brinkman primarily worked with the setters and the offense but also aided in the coaching of Ohio’s back row defense. Since joining the program, Ohio has earned eighth MAC East Division Setter of the Week honors. The team ranked second for assists in the conference in 2022 and fifth in 2023.
In October 2024, Brinkman was recognized as a member of the 2024 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Thirty Under 30 college group.
In 2024, Ohio finished with a 14-15 overall and 10-8 conference record. Brinkman helped two Bobcats, Kharchynska and Hunt, achieve All-MAC honors. Brinkman also coached freshman Bryn Janke as she achieved a team-high 633 assists, ranking ninth in the MAC.
During the 2023 season, Brinkman and the Bobcats once again made an appearance in the MAC Quarterfinals. Brinkman helped Ohio finish with an 18-13 overall and 13-5 conference record. O’Farrell and Kharchynska both received All-MAC First Team honors while Kam Hunt was named to the MAC All-Freshman Team. Under Brinkman, Kwiatkowski and McLean both earned two MAC East Division Setter of the Week honors. McLean concluded the season first on the team for assists and seventh in the MAC with a total of 725.
In 2022, Brinkman helped Ohio achieve a 20-12 overall and 13-5 conference record. This season, Caroline Clippard and Caitlin O’Farrell earned All-MAC honors while Anna Kharchynska was selected for the MAC All-Freshman Team. Ohio also returned to the MAC Tournament, playing in the quarterfinals. In her first season with Ohio, the Bobcats earned six MAC East Division Setter of the Week honors between Parker Kwiatkowski and Tria McLean. Both Kwiatkowski and McLean ranked in the top 10 of the MAC for assists.
Previously, Crawford was the assistant coach for the United States Military Academy. With Army, Crawford helped guide the Cadets to their first Patriot League title and NCAA Tournament birth since 2009. Crawford also helped coach four All-Patriot League performers in the historic 2020 season.
Prior to West Point, she spent two years as a graduate assistant coach at the University of Nebraska-Kearney. The Lopers went 71-4 during Crawford's two seasons on the staff, reaching the winning the MIAA Championship in both seasons with two trips to the NCAA Division II Tournament. In 2019, UNK went 38-1 and reached the NCAA Division II Finals.
The Grand Rapids, Mich. native was a defensive specialist and setter at Creighton for five years. A three-time Big East Conference All-Academic Team qualifier, she helped the Bluejays reach five NCAA Tournaments and win four Big East Tournament titles.
A member of the Dean's List and winner of the 2017 True Blue Award, Crawford amassed 528 digs and 476 assists in her career. As a junior, she had a season-best 17 digs in an NCAA Tournament win over Northern Iowa and had 13 more in a Sweet 16 win against Michigan.
At Northview High in Grand Rapids, Crawford was tabbed the Detroit Free Press Senior Athlete of the Year and the Ottawa-Kent Conference Female Athlete of the Year as a member of the school's volleyball and basketball teams.
Brinkman resides in Athens with her husband, Clark, and daughter, Scottie.
