SEATTLE — Seattle University's Director of Athletics Shaney Fink has announced the hiring of Michelle Cole as the volleyball program's fourth head coach since the program's revival in 1999.
"We are thrilled to welcome Michelle Cole to the Redhawk family," said Fink. "Michelle embodies the mission and values of Seattle U and will be a tremendous asset to our university. She has immense passion for the game and has proven that, along with her ability to recruit and develop student-athletes, she is a fierce competitor. We are excited to launch the next chapter of Seattle U volleyball with Michelle at the helm."
Cole takes the reigns of the Redhawks with several years of coaching experience at the Division I level, including stints with Texas A&M Corpus Christi and South Dakota, with her most recent stop at The Citadel in South Carolina where she spent the last two seasons.
"I am incredibly thankful to Director of Athletics Shaney Fink and the rest of the search committee for enlisting me in joining this Redhawk family as we work to develop our student-athletes into young leaders," said Cole. "It was clear from my first conversation with Associate Athletic Director Eric Guerra that Seattle University was a place with a mission. During my visit, everyone I spoke to had such passion for creating a space where student-athletes could be successful on and off the court."
Cole joined the volleyball program at The Citadel prior to the 2018 season and was part of a coaching staff that recorded the most overall victories in that time period. During her time in Charleston, she focused primarily on the team's outside hitters and defense, and worked with two-time All-Southern Conference Team selection Sharlissa De Jesus, who became the program's fifth player to reach 1,000 career kills.
Cole spent the 2016 and 2017 seasons in Texas A&M Corpus Christi working with both the Islanders' indoor and beach teams. In her first season with the club, Cole helped guide the indoor squad to regular-season and tournament Southland Conference titles and ultimately a berth in the NCAA Tournament. During her stint, she tutored Brittany Gilpin thorough a position switch, from middle blocker to outside blocker. Gilpin subsequently garnered several postseason accolades including Southland Conference Player of the Year, an All-Southland Conference selection and First Team AVCA All-Region and TAMUCC Student-Athlete of the Year. Cole also coached Southland Conference Libero of the Year and First Team All-Southland Conference selection, Kate Klepetka.
Prior to her time in Texas, Cole broke into the Division I ranks in 2014 as she joined the staff at South Dakota. There, Cole's focus was on scouting and recruiting, while also assisting administrative duties such as organizing team travel and summer camps. Under her supervision, the Coyotes' collective grade point average rose from 3.50 to 3.75.
Cole began her coaching career in 2011 as an assistant at Division III Occidental College in California, before assuming the reigns of the Tigers the following season. In her lone campaign as the Tigers' head coach, she led the program to a 19-10 record with an appearance in the conference tournament. Cole then had a one-year stint with Azusa Pacific, helping the Cougars to a 2013 National Christian Colleges Athletic Association championship appearance. From 2009-13, Cole served as club director and coach for The Elite Volleyball Club, based in Chatsworth, Calif.
"The women of Seattle U volleyball are an ambitious group," Cole stated. "They are eager to make an impact in the classroom, in their community and on the Western Athletic Conference. You'll see them continue to set a high mark academically, work diligently for the 'Uncommon Good' of their community and you're going to enjoy seeing them play a fun, aggressive, style of volleyball. This is an exciting time for Seattle U volleyball. We can't wait to get to work."
The native of Temecula, Calif., is a 2001 graduate of Texas A&M and four-year starter for the Aggies where she helped the program to the NCAA Elite Eight in 1999 and 2001. As a senior, Cole earned First Team All-Big 12 and AVCA All-Region honors. She finished her collegiate career with 1,037 kills, 17th-overall, and 1,373 digs, sixth-overall, in addition to an array of records, before playing professionally in Spain.