Stevens Hires McShea as Head Women’s Volleyball Coach
HOBOKEN, N.J. (March 1, 2017) – The Stevens Institute of Technology Department of Athletics has announced the hiring of Annie McShea as the new head women's volleyball coach.
McShea spent 2016 as an assistant at Millikin University, under head coach Debbie Kiick. The Big Blue went 28-12 overall and 7-1 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, winning the conference's regular season and postseason championship, and finished ranked No. 16 in the final American Volleyball Coaches Association poll of the season.
"We are thrilled to have Annie joining the Stevens community," Stevens Director of Athletics
Russell Rogers said. "During the interview process it became very apparent that she was a perfect fit for our women's volleyball program. I am excited about the mentorship Annie will provide our student-athletes and the overall leadership and skill set she brings to Stevens."
McShea becomes the fifth head coach in women's volleyball program history and inherits a Stevens team coming off one of its most successful periods. Over the last four season, the Ducks have won four straight Empire 8 Conference regular season championships, earned one E8 postseason championship, and made two appearances in the NCAA Regional Finals. Stevens closed out 2016 with a 33-6 record and were a perfect 8-0 in conference play. Senior
Mary Tobin, junior
Sydni Horner, sophomore
Brianna Perez, and freshmen
Shelby Stewart and
Sara Hain were named AVCA Honorable Mention All-Americans and freshman
Casey King earned Empire 8 Conference Co-Rookie of the Year honors. Tobin and Perez were also selected as Metro All-Stars by the Eastern College Athletic Conference.
"I would like to thank Director of Athletics,
Russell Rogers, and the entire search committee for the tremendous opportunity to be the next Stevens Head Women's Volleyball coach," McShea said. "This program is at an exciting time in its history and I am looking forward to building on its already storied tradition. Stevens is an exceptional institution with driven student-athletes and I am excited to work with them as a part of the Ducks family."
Prior to her stint at Millikin, the Frederick, Maryland native spent two seasons on the staff at Clarkson University, helping guide the Golden Knights to back-to-back Liberty League regular and postseason championships. In each of McShea's two seasons in upstate New York, Clarkson reached the Elite Eight and finished ranked in the AVCA's top-15.
As a player, McShea played four season at McDaniel College, serving as Team Captain in 2011 and 2012. She was an All-Centennial Conference Selection in 2012 and was a three-time Centennial Conference Fall Academic Honor Roll selection. After graduation, McShea spent one season at her alma mater as a Volunteer Assistant Coach.
McShea graduated Magna Cum Laude from McDaniel in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Elementary Education. She completed her Master of Business Administration in 2016, while on the coaching staff at Clarkson.
What They're Saying about Coach McShea:
"Coach McShea was a valuable assistant to Millikin Head Coach Debbie Kiick and helped guide the Big Blue volleyball program to a conference championships and advance to the NCAA Sweet 16. Annie is a wonderful person with tremendous potential as a head coach. Stevens made a very wise decision bringing Coach McShea on board to lead their program."
-Millikin University Director of Athletics Dr. Craig White
"Annie McShea is going to do a tremendous job in her role as Head Coach at Stevens. Her ability to build relationships with her players, critique technique and develop and implement strategies to win, use technologies for scouting and recruiting, and identify and recruit talent from around the nation are strengths that she will use successfully in her new position. Her Millikin family wishes her the best in this new chapter of her life."
-Millikin University Head Women's Volleyball Coach Debbie Kiick
"Stevens hit a home run by hiring Annie McShea. Annie has spent multiple years in the very top of Division III volleyball, and she knows what it takes to be successful at that level. Annie is not just a talented young coach because she knows the game; she also understands her players off the court, is a great recruiter and a great role model in general. I'm convinced the future holds great things for the Stevens volleyball team and for Annie and I look forward to the great battles I hope our teams will engage in."
-Ithaca College Head Women's Volleyball Coach Johan Dulfer
"Annie played for me at McDaniel and she was the rare combination of tremendous talent and exceptional work ethic. She has carried those traits into her career as a coach and I know she will make an immediate impact at Stevens. Her desire to win championships while mentoring young women through the challenges of collegiate athletics make her a great fit for such a historically strong program."
-McDaniel College Head Women's Volleyball Coach Jessica Wolverton
"I commend Stevens on choosing Annie as the next Head Volleyball Coach. Annie was an integral part of the success we saw at Clarkson and I have no doubt that she will be a valuable asset to not only the volleyball program, but to the overall department. Her knowledge of the game and her work ethic will serve her well as she takes over the reigns at Stevens, and she will continue to build on the longstanding tradition of Stevens Volleyball."
-Clarkson University Athletic Director Steve Yianoukos