Shawn Mahmoudi Named Utica Head Volleyball Coach
Utica, N.Y.
Utica College Athletic Director Jim Spartano named Shawn Mahmoudi head women’s volleyball coach Tuesday. Mahmoudi comes to Utica after spending two seasons as an assistant coach at nearby Syracuse University.
“Utica College is excited to welcome Shawn into our family and we believe she is the best fit to guide our volleyball program into the future,” said Spartano. “Her experience as a player, and most recently as an assistant coach, speaks for itself. We had several great candidates apply for the position and we felt Shawn would provide our student-athletes with the best possible experience.”
In her first season as an assistant at Syracuse she mentored Sarah Morton, who was an All-Big East First Team selection, after leading the nation in solo and total blocks. Morton finished her career as the University’s all-time leader in solo blocks, block assists, total blocks and blocks per set. Mahmoudi also guided the Syracuse defensive unit to a top ten finish nationally, after averaging 2.83 blocks per set.
In the Fall of 2010, she helped the Orange to four tournament titles, and a program-best 17-0 start.
Mahmoudi is a 2006 graduate of Seton Hall University where she played three seasons of BIG EAST volleyball for the Pirates. As a middle blocker, she played in 158 career games and totaled 334 kills for an average of 2.40 kills per game. She also registered 111 total blocks, and closed out her final season ranking ninth in the Big East with 1.08 blocks per game.
Originally from Allen, Texas, she also held club coaching and administrative experience prior to her two seasons at Syracuse. She coached on the club level with Niagara Frontier before founding her own Central New York club team called Empire Volleyball.
Mauhmoudi currently resides in Utica with her fiancé Ben Crossley. For more information about Utica College volleyball you can contact Coach Mahmoudi at 315-223-2540 or you can e-mail her at: stmahmou@utica.edu.