Women's Volleyball | 7/12/2022 5:23:00 PM
ELMIRA, N.Y. – Elmira College Director of Athletics
Rhonda Faunce announced the hiring of
Ryan McDonough '19 as interim women's volleyball coach, effective immediately. McDonough, who was recently named head men's volleyball coach with the Soaring Eagles, will now add women's volleyball to his coaching responsibilities.
"I am very happy to have Ryan taking over the reins of the women's volleyball program during the 2022 season, said Faunce.
"His relationship with our current student-athletes, along with the incoming class put our program in the best possible position with Ryan at the helm. Ryan brings a wealth of experience as a Division III student-athlete, along with his time here at Elmira as a coach."
McDonough is no stranger to working with both the men and women at Elmira, an associate head coaching job he held for each of the two programs.
The Lindenhurst, New York, native, was a four-year starter for the Soaring Eagles and a two-time All-United Volleyball Conference (UVC) honoree. McDonough transformed into one of the most successful attackers to don the Purple and Gold, finishing his career ranked first in aces (175), third in kills (1,197), and fifth in kills per set (2.51). During his sophomore year, he began working with the women's program as a student assistant.
McDonough first began coaching the women at Elmira during the 2019 season as a volunteer assistant coach. In each of the last three years under the guidance of previous head coach Daniel Miranda, McDonough helped guide the Soaring Eagles to the Empire 8 playoffs.
Additionally, in his three years as assistant women's volleyball coach, McDonough helped the Soaring Eagles achieve eight Empire 8 All-Conference selections, including a program record of five during the coronavirus-shortened Spring of 2021.This past season, the women's volleyball team was awarded with the Highest Team GPA Award at the annual Elmira College Athletic Awards Banquet.
"Having this opportunity to coach these group of girls is immensely important to me" said McDonough.
"When I was a sophomore at Elmira College, I helped out the women's team as a student manager. Ever since then the women's program has always been a big part of my life. I am extremely excited to coach this team and set out to achieve our goals together. This group of girls are resilient, passionate, quirky and I would not change a single thing about them. I am excited to see what we can accomplish this year."
McDonough graduated from Elmira in the spring of 2019 with a bachelor's degree in Psychology, along with his master's degree in education this past June.
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