Jan. 23, 2012

by Koby Padgett
Assistant Media Relations Director

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Michelle Collier, who spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach for South Carolina’s volleyball team, has accepted the head coaching job for both indoor and sand volleyball at Jacksonville University.

Collier coached the outside hitters and coordinated the offense last season under Scott Swanson for the Gamecocks, while she worked mainly with the outside hitters the previous season. In Columbia, she tutored Juliette Thévenin, who garnered Southeastern Conference All-Freshman Team honors in 2010. She also helped the team transition under Swanson, as she served as interim head coach until Swanson’s arrival in late February of 2011.

“I am very proud of Michelle for reaching the next level in her coaching career,” said Swanson. “Jacksonville University is lucky to get such a great person as its next head volleyball coach. Michelle will work hard to make both the indoor and outdoor programs into well-respected teams at JU. We want to thank her for her loyalty and hard work, and we wish her and her family all the best as they move on to the next successful chapter of their lives”.

Prior to coming to South Carolina, Collier coached at her alma mater, the University of South Florida, spending two seasons on the sideline for the Bulls. During her tenure there, she helped the team finish in the top half of the BIG EAST twice.

An outstanding player in her own right, USF inducted Collier into its athletics hall of fame this fall, becoming the first Bull volleyball student-athlete to earn that distinction. A two-time conference player of the year and 2002 All-American, Collier also claimed the Conference USA Player of the Decade award in 2004. She stands fifth in NCAA Division I history with 2,729 career kills and sits among the top 10 in numerous career and single-season categories for USF.

Swanson has begun a national search to fill the vacant assistant coaching position.