Please check your inbox (or junk folder) for a link to complete the 2023 AVCA Annual Convention Survey – due Friday, January 12. The input and comments you provide help the AVCA better plan for future conventions.
We look forward to seeing you at the 2024 AVCA Annual Convention in Louisville, Kentucky this December!
Over 570 athletes participated in the 2023 AVCA Phenom Talent Showcase! College coaches who attended: reminder to check University Athlete for athlete contact information, avcaVPI™ results, physical metrics data, etc. Questions? Contact Alex Fitzmorris-Sorn.
The move to ABC on Sunday was a hit: 1.7 million average viewers, and 2.1 million peak viewers tuned in for the NCAA Finals Match broadcast, making it the MOST-WATCHED COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL MATCH IN HISTORY! Texas vs. Nebraska also set a NCAA Indoor Volleyball attendance record with 19,727 fans packing Amalie Arena. Details here from NCAA.com.
The NCAA Tournament semifinals averaged 1.1M viewers on ESPN, a 52% uptick compared to last year – making it the most watched NCAA Volleyball Seminfinals ever on ESPN platforms. The semis also set a record for the most-attended indoor match at 19,598 – which was promptly broken again by the packed arena for the Finals match.
MIVA Announces Changes to Men’s Volleyball Tournament, Names Trophy After Legend Don Shondell The new format for the MIVA Tournament will reward the highest seeds, providing an advantage for a path to the NCAA tournament via the MIVA’s automatic bid. The path to the MIVA title and the chance to hoist the Don Shondell MIVA Championship Trophy begins on April 13. The semifinal will be on April 17 and the title match will be on Saturday, April 20. More here.
$9,781 raised through the AVCA Silent Auction benefiting the AVCA Diversity Awards! Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2023 AVCA Silent Auction held during the AVCA Convention December 14-15, especially the organizations that generously donated. $9,781 was raised to benefit the AVCA Diversity Scholarship Awards Program, which provides promising minority volleyball coaches funding for professional development at the AVCA Convention. CLICK HERE to meet the 20 recipients of the 2023 AVCA Diversity Award! To date, 151 total coaches have received this honor. For more information or to inquire about a donation in support of the AVCA Diversity Awards Program, please contact staff liaison Kennedy Wells at 866-544-2822.
In December, the NCAA shared a memo with select administrators and Division I committees regarding a proposal to add student-athlete compensation in DI. On December 19, NCAA President Charlie Baker published a letter to student-athletes asking for their feedback. In part:
“…there are a couple of things we want to accomplish: 1. We want all Division I colleges and universities to offer student-athletes any level of enhanced educational benefits they deem appropriate. 2. The rules should allow for any Division I school, at their choice, to enter into name, image and likeness licensing opportunities with their student-athletes. In addition, my proposal would create or reimagine a subdivision within Division I for institutions that have the most resources to invest in their student-athletes.” Baker ended the letter with a request for student-athletes to provide feedback on the proposal. Read in full here.
SBJ College: Volleyball is enjoying a moment – Intersport and Fox Sports announced a partnership to put on a tournament featuring Stanford, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Texas on Sept. 1-2.
D1.Ticker/Coaches.wire interviewed several coaches at AVCA Convention:
Creighton Head Volleyball Coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth (new AVCA Board President) discussed leadership, culture, and the state of volleyball. She also shared her perspective on the current state of the NCAA, legislation changes, and the transfer portal.
Minnesota Head Volleyball Coach Keegan Cook: (outgoing AVCA Board President) shared about taking over a winning program and implementing his vision while incorporating the culture already established. Plus, building that culture in an NIL/transfer portal world.
Oregon Head Volleyball Coach Matt Ulmer: discussed his perspective on leadership and the unique aspect of having his mother as a current collegiate volleyball coach (Leanne Ulmer, Head Volleyball Coach at Carthage College). The two also dive into the perspective on increased travel coming from changing conferences.
Learn from some of the best boys volleyball coaches in the country! There are special deals for group purchases, making this the perfect gift for your club coaching staff! Watch the clinic live on January 6th or on demand. SAVE 20% with Promo Code JVABOYS20. REGISTER HERE
The online AVCA Career Centerallows job posters to advertise a job opening, search resumes, manage candidates, and market open positions. Job seekers have the opportunity to post a resume, search for open positions, create job alert notifications, and access free career management resources. Recent posts include:
Assistant Coach, Intermediate – Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff, AZ)
Women’s Assistant Volleyball Coach – Casper College (Casper, WY)
Head Women’s Volleyball Coach – Washington State University (Pullman, WA)
Head Volleyball Coach – Milwaukee School of Engineering (Milwaukee, WI)
Head Coach Indoor Volleyball – Palm Beach Atlantic (West Palm Beach, FL)
Head Coach – University of Texas Permian Basin (Odessa, TX)
Head Coach – Oberlin College and Conservatory (Oberlin, OH)
Assistant Coach – Xavier University (Cincinnati, OH)
Coaching Hires
Contact Alice Rogers to report a coaching transaction for At the Net.
NCAA Women
Franklin College has tabbed Dillon Taylor as the new head coach of the Franklin men’s and women’s volleyball programs.
Thomas College Athletics announced the hiring of Tara Kelley as the Head Women’s Volleyball Coach – subsequently bringing back the DIII program that ended after the 2009-2010 season.
Lake Erie College Athletics announced that Calaeb Haire has been named the next head coach of the Storm volleyball program.
West Virginia University has named Jen Greeny as the fifth volleyball head coach in the program’s history.
Chris Hertel has been named head coach of the Radford University Volleyball program.
Shannon Hunt has been named head coach of the Nevada volleyball program.
Maliah Blakemore has been hired as the Knox College Head Volleyball Coach and Senior Woman Administrator.
Thiel College announced the promotion of Dylan Lasher to Director of Volleyball, men’s and women’s head volleyball coach.
Saint Peter’s University Athletics has named Fernando Colon as the next head volleyball coach to lead the program.
Madison Schweitzer tabbed as the next head coach of the Kenyon College volleyball program.
King University announced the hire of Haley Price as head women’s volleyball coach.
NAIA Women
Park University Gilbert has announced the hiring of Pisila Tukia as the new head coach of the Buccaneer women’s volleyball team. Tukia will also oversee the beach program.
Stormy Siemion has been named the next head coach of Dickinson State volleyball.
Ave Maria University is pleased to announce the hiring of Teigan McCormick as the new head coach for the Ave Maria women’s and beach volleyball programs.
NCAA Men
King University announced the hire of Marquis Clark as head men’s volleyball coach.
The Baruch College Athletic Department is proud to announce the appointment of Ezri Shor as the new Head Coach of the Men’s Volleyball Team.
Bill Fergusonhas been named the inaugural head coach for Catawba College Men’s Volleyball
NAIA Men
Ottawa University is pleased to announce the hiring of men’s volleyball head coach Ashan Jordan.
John Price, who led the CSUN women’s volleyball program on two different occasions, is retiring after over 20 seasons at CSUN and nearly 35 years as a collegiate volleyball coach.
