Issue date: 5/5/08 Section: Sports

Melissa Myers

After a 43-day search, the ISU volleyball team has a coach again.

Melissa Myers was introduced as the successor to Sharon Dingman at a press conference Friday afternoon at the Kaufman Football Building. Dingman, who coached the Redbirds for eight years, resigned last month to coach at Iowa.

Myers is taking over a team that received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament last season after compiling a 21-11 record.

"This is a tremendous opportunity, and I am honored to be the next head coach at Illinois State," Myers said. "During the process, I was extremely drawn to the history and tradition of Illinois State volleyball."

Myers spent the previous six seasons coaching at Division II California University (Pa.) where she led the Vulcans to 30-win seasons in each of the past three years.

"In Melissa Myers, we are hiring a coach that has taken a team from the ground level and turned it into a championship program," ISU Director of Athletics Sheahon Zenger said. "I feel very fortunate to have found an individual that is such a good fit for Illinois State University."

Myers said she was excited about the prospects of recruiting out of Normal.

"There are a lot of different pockets of volleyball in the country, and the areas surrounding Bloomington-Normal are the most saturated, when you factor in Chicago, Indianapolis, St. Louis and in areas around Minnesota and Iowa."

Myers, 32, was a four-year letterwinner at Junitata College.

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