By Bill Koch
Enquirer staff writer

The University of Cincinnati athletic department was stunned Tuesday morning by the death of assistant volleyball coach Stephanie Rosfeld.

Rosfeld, a two-time first-team all-conference selection as a middle hitter during her playing career at UC from 1997-2000, died early Tuesday morning of natural causes.

UC officials were still waiting to learn the exact cause of death.

"It just ripped my heart out," said athletic director Bob Goin.

Rosfeld, 25, was married to former UC football player Doug Rosfeld, a three-year starter at center for the Bearcats from 1998-2000. They had a son, William, who was born in May.

"She bled red and black," said Reed Sunahara, UC's head volleyball coach. "All she talked about was being a Bearcat. She said she didn't want to coach anywhere else."

Sunahara last talked to Rosfeld at about 10:30 p.m. Monday. They were to meet at 8 a.m. Tuesday, in preparation for today's arrival of this year's freshmen.

Instead, he received a phone call at about 7:15 a.m. informing him of her death.

"It's bad enough losing a co-worker," Sunahara said, "but losing a friend is even more devastating."

Sunahara recruited the former Stephanie Meinig out of Washington, Ill., while he was the assistant coach at UC. She played an integral role in the Bearcats' five consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, the first two as a player and the last three as a member of the coaching staff.

Sunahara said the team will dedicate the season to her.

"She was one of my first recruits," he said. "When I first saw her, I thought, 'This girl is not very good now, but she has some potential.' She worked her tail off and developed into one of the best middles in the conference."

Rosfeld, who graduated from UC in 2001 with a degree in health promotions, ended her career with the school and Conference USA records for blocks. She holds the UC record for most games played (502).

She served as a student assistant in 2001 and became a full-time staff member in 2002. She was elevated to top assistant in 2003 and was primarily responsible for the coordination of recruiting, along with practice planning and scouting.

Goin said she and her husband were among his favorites.

"When I came here in '97, he got to go to the Humanitarian Bowl," Goin said of Doug Rosfeld. "He was so appreciative of that little bowl and talked about how thrilling it was and how he loved the university.

"Then I got to watch Stephanie play and she was one of our superstars. When they decided to get married, it was like a marriage made in heaven.

"We lost a wonderful girl. We lost somebody who I know was going to be a wonderful mother. We lost a wonderful coach and we lost a wonderful daughter of our program. That's an awful lot to lose in one day. She was what everyone wants their daughter to be like."