By: Laura Chapman
Assistant Sports Information Director
chapmal@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
HUNTINGDON, Pa. – Juniata College women's volleyball head coach Heather Pavlik has announced the hiring of former Transylvania University head coach, and Juniata men's volleyball player, Casey Dale as the new women's team assistant. Former assistant Steph Strauss accepted the position of assistant at Navy earlier this month. Dale returns to his alma mater after five seasons as the head coach of the Pioneers and two seasons as the women's assistant at Washington and Lee University.
"Casey's wealth of knowledge and experience will be a tremendous asset to this program immediately. He has a great work ethic and his coaching demeanor is a perfect fit for this staff," said Pavlik.
At Transylvania, Casey finished his first season in seventh in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) before leading the program to its first ever league title in 2010 and repeating in 2011 and 2012. He was named HCAC Coach of the Year in 2010 and was twice a recipient of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Thirty Under 30 award that recognizes the top 30 coaches in the country under the age of thirty, in 2010 and 2011.
"Juniata is my alma mater and it's a place that I love deeply in my heart. I care about the school very much and to be working with a national championship caliber team is also extremely exciting," said Dale. "When I played at Juniata we had a ton of success. While I was working with the women for two years as a student-assistant we won a national championship and it was all really exciting and to be going back and getting a chance to work with the women's team is really awesome."
The 2007 graduate served as a student-assistant with Juniata women's team for two years including the teams' second NCAA Division III National Championship in 2006.
"The fact that Casey and I have worked together previously on a championship staff here at Juniata will be a huge benefit to helping us gel quickly," said Pavlik. "He has a great understanding of what it takes to have a successful program both on and off of the court and he will be an outstanding role model for our players."
During Dale's time with the Pioneers he coached 19 players to All-HCAC honors, seven All-Freshman HCAC team members, and the 2010 HCAC Defensive Player of the Year. The team accumulated an overall record of 103-65 under Dale's tutelage and an HCAC record of 34-11. Dale also served as a physical education coach in both weight straining and volleyball at Transylvania and Washington and Lee.
"I think [Heather and I] are both going to learn a lot from one another. I think the program is at a point where Heather needs a little bit of a challenge and the team needs a little bit of a challenge and I think that's something that I can help with," added Dale. "We're all on the same page – wanting to win a national championship. I think Heather and I are going to be on the same page pretty much right away with goals and with things that we are going to put in place with the team and things that are already in place in the gym."
Pavlik added, "One of the most important qualities Casey brings to the table is his love for this institution. Juniata is in his blood and that means the world to me."
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