Amy Bishop Funk, perhaps best known in these parts as veteran Hopkins varsity softball coach, has been hired as head varsity volleyball coach for the Vikings.
Funk has a lot of experience. She has guided a softball team for 16 years and has coached volleyball for 17, but this will be her first at the varsity level.
She succeeds Alicia Kent, who has stepped down after one year.
She graduated from Aquinas College in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. She played three years of softball and one year of basketball for the Saints.
Funk has been physical wellness and health teacher at West Ottawa Public Schools since her college graduation. Her overall coaching has included 29 years at levels from sixth grade to college.
She will begin her seventh year coaching varsity softball this spring for the Vikings and has been junior varsity volleyball coach for the past three years. Funk also coached varsity softball at Grandville High School and was an assistant in softball for Hope College.
Her Grandville softball team of 2008 won the district championship, as did her West Ottawa teams of 2003, 2004 and 2017. Her West Ottawa team of 2002 won its first O-K Conference championship in 25 years.
“I’m feeling absolutely excited to take this position,” Funk said. “Ever since my daughter now a Hopkins grad) played volleyball at Hopkins under (coach) Terri Wisser ,I knew this was a special program. The student athletes are one of a kind.
“For a small school ,they have the want and desire to win and be successful. I love that passion and drive in these Hopkins athletes I’m hoping to making a positive impact.”
Interestingly, she has forged friendships with her neighborhood rivals in Wayland, particularly with assistant softball coach Nicki Cardosa. Yet she considers Wayland to be the greatest impediment for Hopkins’ drive for a district title in softball.
She lives in Hopkins with her husband, assistant varsity football coach Jerry Funk.
