Written by: Danny Talbert
Following last year's 4-23 record, Daniel Schulte takes over the LaGrange College volleyball program. Coach Schulte has over 40 years of coaching volleyball and beach volleyball experience. Most recently, he coached at Louisburg College and within his first year the team had a 10-win improvement. Prior to Louisburg College, he coached some of the top club programs in Michigan, Ohio, and North Carolina. He was also the Head Coach at Oakland University for four years, transitioning the team from a top-20 DII program to DI. Before Oakland University, he coached for nine seasons at Syracuse University as the Head Coach for the women's volleyball team. In those nine seasons, he led the team to 200 career match wins and finished second in the Big East for three seasons. Coach Schulte began his collegiate volleyball coaching career at the University of Rhode Island. While at URI, he helped take the team to a nationally ranked season and receive an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. He grew up playing volleyball in central Ohio.
Coach Schulte chose to come to LaGrange College because he believes in the visionary plan of Vice President for Athletics and Recreation Terlynn Olds and President Baxter. They both helped create LaGrange College's first ever beach volleyball team. We are proudly only one of six DIII colleges to have a beach volleyball team. Along with volleyball, Schulte will also be coaching this year's beach volleyball. In regard to this new program, he told me that, "With this program it allows us to reach different communities both local and nationally." He also stated that with beach volleyball growing at the rate it is, he believes that in the near future there will be a separate DIII postseason tournament and championship.
One thing that Coach Schulte wants to bring back to this year's team is the love, enjoyment, and passion for volleyball. While describing the culture he wants to have, he says, "If I bring excitement, appreciation, and joy every day, then this year will be a much different team and have much better results."
Along with new Head Coach Schulte, the program brings in Graduate Assistant, Ciera Phelps. Coach Phelps played volleyball for Piedmont University from 2019-2022, rounding out her 10-year playing career. At Piedmont, she was placed four times on the USA South All-Academic Team while being a dual sport athlete for women's lacrosse. Phelps has been coaching club volleyball for four years, three being at Tsunami Volleyball and one being a Head Coach at Lanier Volleyball Club. She has coached twice at AAU Nationals and placed in the top 75.
The 2023 volleyball season begins on Sep. 1, at 5 p.m. at Fort Valley State University. Following this match, the Panthers play another away game on Sep. 2 at Oglethorpe University at 2 p.m. The first home game for the volleyball team is against Wesleyan College on Sep. 5 at 7 p.m. in Richter Gymnasium. Come out and support our panthers.
