Weidi ZhangTitle: Assistant Coach Experience: 23rd Year Alma Mater: Shanghai Institute, '66 Email:zhangw@csus.edu Bio:
Weidi Zhang will enter his 23nd season with Sacramento State in 2009. A 15-year international coaching veteran with 15 years of playing experience, his varied coaching duties include stints as head coach of both the Shanghai women’s professional team (1985-87) and the men’s professional team (1980-83, 1985-87) as well as the Nigerian National Team (1979-80). Additionally, Zhang spent time as an assistant coach with the Chinese National Team (1983-85).
In 22 years as an assistant at Sacramento State (1987-pres.), the Hornets have combined for a 568-235 record (.707 winning percentage), 14 NCAA Tournament appearances and 11 Big Sky Conference championships.
He also coached the Sacramento State men’s club team for 13 seasons (1989-2001). During that time, Zhang led the men’s squad to numerous top 10 finishes and two NIRSA Div. I national titles (1995, 1997).
In 1983, Zhang helped coach the Chinese Men’s Olympic Team to a second-place finish at the Asian Volleyball Championships, held in Japan. One year later, that same team placed sixth in the Japan Cup and second in the Christmas Tournament in Holland.
Zhang was the starting setter and captain of the Chinese National Team in 1975. He helped lead the squad to a third-place finish at the Asian Volleyball Championship that year. Prior to that, he played competitively with a local team from Shanghai (1966-74) which won the national championship on four occasions.
During the course of his playing career (1961-75), Zhang was the starting setter and team captain for all three teams in which he played (Shanghai Youth Volleyball Team, Shanghai Volleyball Team and the Chinese National Team).
Zhang earned a bachelor’s degree from the Shanghai Institute of Physical Education in 1966. He has been teaching volleyball classes at Sacramento State for the past 23 years. Weidi and his wife, Xiaoping, have a 34-year old son, Yu Zhang.
Weidi Zhang
