Feb. 9, 2008

The University of Maryland has named Dayton coach Tim Horsmon its new head volleyball coach. Horsmon replaces Janice Kruger, who retired after a 30-year coaching career (the last 20 seasons as Maryland's head coach) as the ACC's all-time winningest coach with 381 victories.

Horsmon led the Flyers to four NCAA tournament berths in five seasons at Dayton including the program's first ever trip in 2003. Last season, UD finished 33-2 and ranked 24th in the final CSTV/AVCA Top 25 Coaches Poll. The Flyers were nationally-ranked for the first-time ever and reached as high as 12th in the poll at one point. UD won its fourth straight (and seventh overall) Atlantic 10 Regular Season Championship and took home the Atlantic 10 Tournament Title for the fourth time in five years.

His five-year record at Dayton was 127-43.

"We are disappointed that Tim Horsmon will be leaving the Flyers; we certainly wish him all the best," UD Vice-President/Director of Athletics Ted Kissell said. "Under Tim's leadership, we enjoyed great success. Because of that, our volleyball program is now on the national radar."

The success not only came on the court, but also off the court, as the Flyer set season and single-match attendance records throughout the season. UD hosted a pair of sold-out matches in the NCAA tournament.

Dayton returns 13 letterwinners and five starters from last year's team. Headlining the returnees are three all-conference selections - two-time All-Atlantic 10 performer and 2006 A-10 Setter of the Year Erin Schroeder, 2007 First Team All-Atlantic 10 selection Bethany Akerhielm and 2007 A-10 Rookie of the Year Lindsay Fletemier. Schroeder was also an AVCA Honorable Mention All-America selection in 2007.

"Dayton has been a special place for me," Horsmon said. "I want to thank the administration and staff for making this a wonderful place, especially Dr. Curran, Ted Kissell, Tim Wabler and Dave Harper."

"This program has an exciting future, but Maryland is home for me. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to coach an exceptional group of young women. Dayton's future is unbelievably bright."

"Dayton is a very attractive job given our commitment to national prominence and the quality of the young women on our volleyball team," Kissell affirmed. "We are well-prepared to move forward to continue the success of the program."

A national search to name a new University of Dayton volleyball coach will begin immediately.