Kathy Frankowski
Kathy Frankowski

Bio


Kathy Frankowski is entering her fourth season as head women's volleyball coach at Mitchell College in 2017-18.

Frankowski made her collegiate head coaching debut with the Mariners in 2014. In three seasons she has produced a total of six all-conference selections.

Frankowski joined the Mariners following two years as an assistant at Southern Connecticut State University under head coach Lisa Barbaro. The Owls posted winning records in each of her seasons with the program, including a 24-11 record during the 2012 campaign that concluded with a trip to the Northeast-10 Conference Championship semifinals.

Prior to her time at SCSU, Frankowski spent a season as an assistant coach at both Southern New Hampshire University (2011) and Plymouth State University (2010). During her year at Plymouth State, the team posted an overall record of 19-14, finished third in the Little East Conference regular season, and appeared in both the Little East Championship and ECAC Championship finals.

A native of Farmington, Conn., Frankowski graduated from Farmington High School in 2006. She was a four-year varsity lettterwinner in volleyball, basketball and softball during her high school career.

Frankowski was a four-year member of the Plymouth State women’s volleyball program as both an outside hitter and defensive specialist. She was a key member of the 2008 ECAC Championship team and helped the Panthers to a program-best 32-6 record in 2009. She led the team in service aces in each of her four years—she also ranked 31st in all of Division III in 2009—and appeared in 131 out of a possible 139 matches during her career. 

Frankowski graduated from Plymouth State with a degree in physical education with a focus in physical & health education. She is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Athletic Administration at Plymouth State.

Meet The Coach
Vinh Nguyen

Vinh Nguyen was named the next head coach of the Mitchell College women’s volleyball team in March 2026.

Nguyen arrives in New London following a seven-year tenure as head coach at the University of Hartford from 2018–25, where he guided the program to multiple individual accolades and sustained success both on and off the court. Under his leadership, Hartford produced a pair of conference Players of the Year, two All-Americans, a Rookie of the Year, and eight all-conference selections, along with 11 all-academic honorees. He also served on the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) East Region Selection Committee and the AVCA Division I Head Coaches Committee.

Prior to his time at Hartford, Nguyen spent three seasons as associate head coach at the University of North Texas, where he played a key role in a Conference USA championship season in 2017 that saw the team post a 29–3 record. In that role, he served as recruiting coordinator and helped develop multiple award-winning players, including a two-time conference Player of the Year and All-American.

Nguyen also served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at California State University, Fullerton, helping the program capture the Big West Conference title in 2010.

His extensive coaching background includes experience at the international level as a staff member with the USA Men’s Olympic Team from 2005–07, where he assisted with preparation for major international competitions, including the World League and the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

At the collegiate level, Nguyen previously spent time at Cal Poly Pomona, where he contributed to a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) championship team that finished 25–2 while helping develop multiple All-Americans and all-conference performers.

In addition to his collegiate and international experience, Nguyen founded and directed the Top Gun Volleyball Academy for 20 years, training more than 3,000 athletes and helping develop players who went on to compete at all levels of collegiate volleyball, including the Olympic stage.

Nguyen began his coaching career at the high school level in California and also served as an adjunct professor of kinesiology at Cal Poly Pomona. He earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Cal Poly Pomona in 2000.

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