Former All-Big Ten setter Colleen (Neels) Bayer returns to the Badgers as the team’s director of operations.
“I’m so excited to bring Colleen and her family back to Madison,” Sheffield said. “Colleen was a great player for the Badgers and really gave a lot of herself to the program as an assistant coach. She was here for 11 years and I’m not sure there are too many people who have a deeper love for this program and this university than she does.”
Bayer was a 1997 and 1998 first-team All-Big Ten setter. She aided Wisconsin to the 1997 Big Ten championship and three NCAA tournament appearances. A four-year letter winner, Bayer played her first two seasons as a defensive specialist and back-up setter. She was also a two-time AVCA All-District selection and was named to the 1997 and 1998 NCAA Regional All-Tournament teams. Bayer was a Badger team captain in 1998 and also earned two Academic All-Big Ten honors.
Bayer returned to Madison in 2005 as an assistant coach for the Badgers under Pete Waite until 2011. The Badgers competed in three NCAA tournaments, including an Elite Eight appearance in 2005, during Bayer’s tenure.
Bayer has spent the last five season as an assistant coach at Georgia. Her on-court responsibilities included the training of the pin hitters and passers as well as assisting in the coordination of the offense.
“I am thrilled to be coming back home to Wisconsin and the Badger Volleyball program,” said Bayer. “I am looking forward to help the staff and players in any way that I can to continue the winning tradition that is Wisconsin Volleyball!”
Following her collegiate career, Bayer played with the United States Professional Volleyball league. She was a member of the USPV Dream Team in 1999-2000. Bayer played professionally with USC-Muenster in Muenster, Germany, in 2000 before returning to play one year with the Minnesota Chill of the USPV.
A native of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, Bayer graduated from Wisconsin in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies. She and her husband, Dave, are the parents of three children: Max, Ben and Samantha.
