| Thursday, February 28, 2008 |
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AVE MARIA, Fla. – (February 20, 2008) – Ave Maria University (AMU) announced today that Melissa Chaplin has been hired as its first women’s head volleyball coach. Chaplin has held numerous positions in volleyball and player development for many years, including most recently serving as the College Recruiting and Training Coordinator, and 14’s Elite Coach, for the Fort Myers Volleyball Academy (FMVBA). For the past two years she has also been heavily involved in the junior USA volleyball programs in the Fort Myers, Fla., community. Chaplin officially begins immediately at AMU and will start her national search to fill the 2008 volleyball squad.
“Melissa Chaplin is an extraordinary find for Ave Maria University,” said Brian Scanlan, Ave Maria University Athletic Director. “Melissa’s positive coaching style and focus on values and building character are what overwhelmingly convinced us that she is a great fit for our volleyball and athletic programs.”
Chaplin is also excited about the opportunity to coach at AMU. “I have realistic goals for the next years in recruiting and what it will take to lead this program,” she said. “I will be looking for young women to start this program that understand our commitment to faith and the academic opportunities offered at Ave Maria University. The campus atmosphere, the dedication by President Nicholas Healy and Brian Scanlan, and the mission of the University have positioned our athletic program for great future success.”
Chaplin has coached at the collegiate level for three years, two years as a assistant coach at Iowa Wesleyan College (IWC) in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and prior to that she assisted at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa. She has also coached at the USAV junior level for nine years. In 2004 the IWC team completed its season with a record of 30-8, won the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Region VII tournament and advanced to the NAIA national tournament.
She also served as the Sports Information Director for IWC, managing statistics and media relations for 15 sports, and was involved in the hall of fame, boosters and fundraising. Chaplin was an asset to IWC in helping the institution gain exposure when she served as the founder and director of IWC Volleyblast junior and adult USA Volleyball tournaments and IWC Nike Camps with US SPORTS.
As a player, Chaplin started her career as a Division I outside hitter in the Big 12 for Iowa State University in 1997 and 1998. She transferred to the University of Iowa, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design. Chaplin was offered an opportunity to play at Florida Gulf Coast University where she was a starter in 2005, helping the team to achieve a 27-4 record and an appearance in the south regional final.
AMU’s women’s volleyball team will begin competing as an independent and currently has applied for acceptance into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). As the only NAIA member institution in the five collegiate tri-county area, AMU will be looking to gain acceptance into the NAIA’s Florida Sun Athletic Conference, which spans the state of Florida and Southern Georgia.
