Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame: Connie Denaburg Among Foremost Brevard Volleyball Coaches, Mentors

By  //  May 7, 2021

SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME

THE DIRECTOR OF CAPE COAST VOLLEYBALL CLUB for almost 20 years, Connie Denaburg began her coaching career at Merritt Island High School in 1995 as the varsity coach and led them to 5 straight Cape Coast Conference titles in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – When you combine wife, mom, coach, motivator, athlete and throw in the love of sports and teamwork you come up with Connie Denaburg.

The director of Cape Coast Volleyball Club for almost 20 years, Connie began her coaching career at Merritt Island High School in 1995 as the varsity coach and led them to five straight Cape Coast Conference titles in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

The Merritt Island Mustangs were District champs her last five years through 2001 where she led them to a state finals appearance in 2001. Denaburg’s teams finished in the top 8 in the state for an additional three years.

Denaburg’s athletic roots in sports were not born on the beaches or courts of Brevard County, but in the Midwest, as she grew up in Illinois with two very supportive parents, her father DeLace and her mom, Wilma Schwartz, who passed several years back.

CONNIE DENABURG with her daughter Lexi, who was an exceptional indoor and outdoor volleyball and soccer player for Merritt Island High. Lexi is now attending UCLA on a beach volleyball scholarship.

Denaburg excelled on another court before taking up volleyball in her junior year of high school. She played tennis and was so good that she spent time playing on the United States Tennis Association circuit as well.

A four-sport star in high school, Connie received a tennis scholarship to attend Carson Newman in Jefferson City, Tennessee and ended up walking onto the Lady Eagles volleyball team, where she played both sports for all four years.

She graduated with a B.S. in Accounting and Recreation, later earned an MBA from Nova University and spent 10 years working as an accountant at Kennedy Space Center.

Following graduation, Connie spent time playing beach volleyball and after her playing days took up coaching. She stepped away from the Mustangs to raise a family but never left the sport, taking over as Director at the Cape Coast Volleyball Club in 2002.

Denaburg coached ages 13, 16 and 18 year-olds. In 2010, her Cape Coast 12 NIKE team was ranked second in the state and won the USA Volleyball Florida Region Bid tournament and ended placing 19th overall in the nation.

She now concentrates her efforts on getting the younger ages involved in local leagues, camps and clinics year-round. Also in 2010, Connie was recognized by the USAV Florida Region on behalf of Cape Coast Volleyball Club as “Club Director of the Year.”

“There is no one else in Brevard County that has done so much for the growth of volleyball for our youth,” said Daren Bolton, coach of the Satellite Scorpions and Cape Coast Volleyball beach director.

“Connie has positively impacted so many young lives. I’m proud to have coached under her direction and even more to call her my friend.”

THE DIRECTOR OF CAPE COAST VOLLEYBALL CLUB for almost 20 years, Connie Denaburg, far left, began her coaching career at Merritt Island High School in 1995 as the varsity coach and led them to 5 straight Cape Coast Conference titles in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

CHIPS OFF THE OLD BLOCK

To say that Denaburg’s family is filled with exceptional athletes, would be an understatement. Her husband of 22 years, Dan Denaburg, is supportive and the person she leans on the most.

With Dan’s success as a football player in college and Connie’s athletic abilities, there is no wonder that the Denaburg children are athletic marvels as well.

The oldest, Karly, is a sophomore at North Greenville University where she stars for the Crusaders on the soccer field. Mason, a Merritt Island High senior, is a baseball standout for the Mustangs and is committed to play for the Florida Gators.

Where the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree is with 16-year old Lexi, an exceptional indoor and outdoor volleyball and soccer player for Merritt Island High. Lexi is committed to attend UCLA on a beach volleyball scholarship. The youngest is 14-year old Brady who wants to play three sports at MIHS next fall.

An exceptional athlete, successful coach and exemplary role model for family and community, Connie has earned her Hall of Fame plaque alongside the rest of the great athletes and coaches of the Space Coast.

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THE 2018 SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME.

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