Just throwing ideas at the wall here, people, do not think anything bigger than that.
Have you guys seen this? Have you heard about this? Marquette volleyball needs a new head coach after Ryan Theis left to take the vacant Florida job.
So, I thought it’s only right for me to do my part to help brand new MU athletic director Mike Broeker find said new head coach. Given that Theis had a contract that ran through 2028, I’m not 100% sure that Broeker was 100% ready to make a hire about a month after his promotion to the top job. But, in theory, former AD Bill Scholl had something of a list in his desk drawer in case Theis was suddenly abducted by space aliens, so Broeker probably doesn’t need my help.
But I’m going to throw out a few names here anyway.
A couple of caveats as to what you’re about to see: I started with the automatic bid list for the 2024 NCAA tournament and just ignored anyone from a major conference. Guys, I don’t think Kirsten Bernthal Booth is leaving Creighton for Marquette. [Aside: We do have to admit it would be funny.] Then I tacked on the three at-large teams from non-power conferences to my list. Then I checked every team for a head coach with something resembling a track record of success. I want Marquette to hire a woman to coach women’s volleyball because 1) the NCAA just had a female-coached team win the national championship for the first time ever which is absurdly late in coming, and 2) only two of Marquette’s other six (seven if you count indoor and outdoor track as two like the NCAA does) women’s teams have a woman in charge. So, if you’re a chap with a history of success, sorry, no dice for this list. If you’re closer to the end of your career than the beginning, that was also a no-go for me, as was anyone who is coaching at their alma mater.
So: Woman with history of success as head coach, coming off a tournament appearance, on the younger side of things, no serious connection to the school they’re currently at.
Yes, I’m probably missing someone who won a regular season title somewhere and missed the NCAA tournament. Yes, I’m definitely missing a coach or seven that has a winning track record but had an off year and didn’t make it to the NCAA tournament. Yes, I’m assuredly missing a power conference assistant coach ready for the big chair….. but I also don’t think MU should be hiring a first time head coach. I’m also not doing any background check work here, so if someone has skeletons in their closet, I am unaware of any problems.
It’s a short list. I ended up with nine women from the 27 teams on my list.
Three got struck because I don’t expect them to change jobs past the age of 54, two of which have been at their current jobs for 20 years or more, and another went off the list because she’s been coaching at her alma mater for 25 years. Two more get scratched off because they just went to their first NCAA tourney in their second season as a head coach. Both are in their 30s, so that fits the profile, but just not quite enough of a track record yet.
And so, I have three names for you.
Going in alphabetical order by last name, because why not…….
Amanda Berkley, Loyola Chicago
In seven seasons with the Ramblers, Berkley has compiled a record of 136-77 (.638) and with five more years at Southern Miss in her past, she has a career record of 240-136 (.638). She’s taken Loyola Chicago to the tournament in both 2022 and 2024, and the Ramblers beat BYU this year for the first NCAA tournament win in program history.
Berkley hails from Racine, Wisconsin, and she walked on to the Wisconsin volleyball team in 2004 before eventually earning a scholarship and playing for four NCAA tournament teams, three of which went to at least the Sweet 16.
Lynze Roos, Wofford
The Terriers have gone to the NCAA tournament in each of the last two campaigns under Roos’ guidance. In 10 seasons, she’s put together a record of 150-118 (.559) and after going 164-119 (.579) at Division 2 Lynn University, Roos is 314-237 (.570) overall in her career. Oh, and the Lynn record means that the 2001 Butler graduate recorded nearly twice as many wins as Lynn had at all ever before she was hired.
Leanne Williamson, South Dakota
By complete luck of the draw, I have left the best candidate for last.
Since taking over as head coach for the Coyotes after five seasons as an assistant in Vermillion, Williamson has put together a record of 231-101 (.696) overall and 137-40 (.774) in Summit League play. She is the winningest coach in USD history, and Williamson has been in charge for each of the five NCAA tournament appearances in history since South Dakota moved up to Division 1 in 2008, all of which have come since 2018.
Williamson is a native of Hartland, Wisconsin, and graduated from UW-Milwaukee in 2007. She was just recently installed into the UWM Hall of Fame — as in literally this month — and she still ranks #10 in career kills, #9 in career assists, #5 in career aces, and #7 in career digs. She led the country in triple-doubles in 2007 and was named Horizon League Player of the Year as well as her second straight AVCA All-American honors.
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