Aird Makes Two Additions to Staff

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Maryland volleyball head coach Steve Aird announced the hiring of Aubrey Pfau as the Terps' director of operations and Christian Hartford as the program's strength & conditioning coach.

“Our administration has been extremely supportive and I am thrilled about the progress our program has made,” Aird said. “You can't build a great company or a great program without great human beings. We have added character people who care deeply about their role, and it is a fun time to be around Maryland volleyball.”

A native of Frederick, Md., Pfau brings extensive knowledge and coaching experience of local volleyball to College Park.

“Aubrey loves the state of Maryland and has strong connections to the university,” Aird said. “She has been around the program since we arrived and loves the vision. She is highly organized, loves the game of volleyball and is excited to learn. Our players think the world of her and she is a wonderful addition to the staff.”

Pfau spent the last seven years at Middletown High School in Middletown, Md., serving as a special education instructional assistant and the varsity volleyball head coach. She has also spent the last six years as an assistant coach for the Metro Volleyball Club in Washington, D.C.

“I am honored and thrilled for the opportunity to be a part of the Maryland family, and to work with such a talented staff, university and volleyball conference,” Pfau said. “Words can't begin to express the excitement I have to assist in the growing program that Coach Aird and his staff have been building.”

At Metro, Pfau served as an assistant for the 15 Travel team under head coach and current Maryland assistant Adam Hughes. In 2015, she helped guide the team to winning the 15 Open Division at the Capitol Hill Classic. The team finished second in the CHRVA region and earned a bid to nationals. In 2014, Pfau led the team to nationals.

Pfau already has familiarity with numerous Terps as she coached Samantha Higginbothem, Hailey Murray and Liz Twilley in their high school and club careers.

A 2006 graduate of Shepherd University, Pfau earned a Bachelor of Science in recreation and leisure studies and played Division II volleyball as a middle hitter for four seasons. She attended high school at Middletown, where she helped guide the team to the school's first Frederick County Volleyball Championship.

Hartford joins the Terps from Northwestern, where he served as a graduate assistant sports performace coach. He will also serve as the strength coach for men's golf and women's tennis.

“Christian is one of the top young performance coaches in the country,” Aird said. “He has great energy and passion for the profession. Our team has grown a great deal working with him and I expect nothing but great things to come going forward.”

In addition to Northwestern, Hartford interned in the strength departments at Big Ten programs Michigan and Penn State. He also worked with the Pitt football team and United States Performance Center. The New Kensington, Pa., native has worked with numerous collegiate sports.

"When I interviewed for the job at Maryland, I quickly fell in love with the department,” said Hartford. “The vision of greatness across the entire department was palpable. I am very grateful for this opportunity to be a strength coach at University of Maryland, and I am excited for the success that will come in the near future."

A 2012 graduate of Wake Forest, Hartford was on the football team for one season before being sidelined by an injury. He worked with the team as a student athletic trainer for two years and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in health and exercise science. Hartford is currently earning his Master's of Sports Administration from Northwestern.

– Maryland –

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Players Mentioned

#6 Samantha Higginbothem: DS/L; 5' 2"; Freshman

#2 Hailey Murray: MB; 6' 1"; Freshman

#12 Liz Twilley: OH; 6' 1"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#6 Samantha Higginbothem
: 5' 2"; Freshman
: DS/L

#2 Hailey Murray
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: MB

#12 Liz Twilley
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: OH

Players Mentioned

#6 Samantha Higginbothem

#2 Hailey Murray

#12 Liz Twilley

Players Mentioned

#6 Samantha Higginbothem

#2 Hailey Murray

#12 Liz Twilley