Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Ahiers tapped as new volleyball coach
1/7/2016 11:59:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Raiders hire former Carson-Newman head man
MURFREESBORO - Middle Tennessee announced today the hiring of Dan Ahiers (pronounced Airs) as the 10th head volleyball coach in school history. Ahiers comes to Murfreesboro from Jefferson City, Tennessee, where he led the Carson-Newman Eagles to a 56-15 overall record and a 38-6 mark in South Atlantic Conference play during his two seasons.
"It was a very involved process and Dan's name quickly rose to the top," said Director of Athletics Chris Massaro. "His record at Carson-Newman speaks for itself and he spent three years working under legendary coach Kathy Gregory at UCSB. During multiple interviews it was evident his personality and relentless drive would be a perfect fit for our volleyball program.
"I asked our team what characteristics they wanted in the next coach and Dan hits every quality to a tee. We are extremely excited about him joining the Blue Raider family."
Senior Women's Administrator and former MT head coach Diane Turnham echoed that sentiment. "It is an exciting time for Middle Tennessee volleyball," she said. "Excitement is contagious and you can't be in a room with Coach Ahiers for five minutes and not be excited. His energy, knowledge and dedication to the sport are invigorating.
"I look forward to working with him and his staff and I know our team and fans will respond to his competitive spirit and his appetite for success on a national level. He emerged as the leader from a very impressive pool of candidates with very successful resumes. But I truly believe he is the best fit for our program at this time. The future is bright with him at the helm."
Ahiers said he is excited and confident at the team's chances in the future.
"I am very excited for this opportunity," he said. "I see no reason why we can't compete right away and be one of the top four teams in the conference. I want to compete at a high level and I know Middle Tennessee has the resources for us to do so."
Ahiers takes over a program that has seen great success in recent times in the form of six straight NCAA Tournament appearances from 2006-11. In those appearances the Blue Raiders advanced to the second round three times and the regional semifinals once. But in the last four years MT has struggled, going 44-79.
Post-season play is not uncommon to Ahiers as Carson-Newman made the Division II post-season both years he was at the helm. In 2014, the Eagles made the Southeast Regional as a No. 6 seed, and upset South Carolina Aiken in the first round 3-0. This past season Carson-Newman won their first ever Southeast Regional Championship, as they defeated Lenoir-Ryne 3-1 to advance to the National Quarterfinals.
Ahiers became the fastest coach in Eagles history to win 50 games, as it took him 22 fewer games to reach that mark than the previous school record. He also is the fourth coach in South Atlantic Conference history to reach the mark in his first two seasons.
In his first season at Jefferson City in 2014, Ahiers guided the Eagles to 27 wins (third-most in school history), won the most games in SAC play with 20, and went 11-0 on the road in conference play. On November 1, he led the Eagles to a win over No. 7 Wingate, the highest ranked team Carson-Newman has defeated. The Eagles also finished second in the conference, the best by a first-year head coach in SAC history.
Before his head coaching debut at Carson-Newman, Ahiers was an assistant at Seattle U in 2013. He served as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, and helped guide the Redhawks to a 9-7 record in the Western Athletic Conference.
Prior to his time in the Emerald City, Ahiers spent three years working for the "Queen" of college volleyball, Kathy Gregory at UCSB. With the Gauchos, Ahiers helped produce five All-Americans and 10 all-conference selections while helping bring in a pair of classes that were recognized as being top 30 in the nation.
"It was a very involved process and Dan's name quickly rose to the top," said Director of Athletics Chris Massaro. "His record at Carson-Newman speaks for itself and he spent three years working under legendary coach Kathy Gregory at UCSB. During multiple interviews it was evident his personality and relentless drive would be a perfect fit for our volleyball program.
"I asked our team what characteristics they wanted in the next coach and Dan hits every quality to a tee. We are extremely excited about him joining the Blue Raider family."
Senior Women's Administrator and former MT head coach Diane Turnham echoed that sentiment. "It is an exciting time for Middle Tennessee volleyball," she said. "Excitement is contagious and you can't be in a room with Coach Ahiers for five minutes and not be excited. His energy, knowledge and dedication to the sport are invigorating.
"I look forward to working with him and his staff and I know our team and fans will respond to his competitive spirit and his appetite for success on a national level. He emerged as the leader from a very impressive pool of candidates with very successful resumes. But I truly believe he is the best fit for our program at this time. The future is bright with him at the helm."
Ahiers said he is excited and confident at the team's chances in the future.
"I am very excited for this opportunity," he said. "I see no reason why we can't compete right away and be one of the top four teams in the conference. I want to compete at a high level and I know Middle Tennessee has the resources for us to do so."
Ahiers takes over a program that has seen great success in recent times in the form of six straight NCAA Tournament appearances from 2006-11. In those appearances the Blue Raiders advanced to the second round three times and the regional semifinals once. But in the last four years MT has struggled, going 44-79.
Post-season play is not uncommon to Ahiers as Carson-Newman made the Division II post-season both years he was at the helm. In 2014, the Eagles made the Southeast Regional as a No. 6 seed, and upset South Carolina Aiken in the first round 3-0. This past season Carson-Newman won their first ever Southeast Regional Championship, as they defeated Lenoir-Ryne 3-1 to advance to the National Quarterfinals.
Ahiers became the fastest coach in Eagles history to win 50 games, as it took him 22 fewer games to reach that mark than the previous school record. He also is the fourth coach in South Atlantic Conference history to reach the mark in his first two seasons.
In his first season at Jefferson City in 2014, Ahiers guided the Eagles to 27 wins (third-most in school history), won the most games in SAC play with 20, and went 11-0 on the road in conference play. On November 1, he led the Eagles to a win over No. 7 Wingate, the highest ranked team Carson-Newman has defeated. The Eagles also finished second in the conference, the best by a first-year head coach in SAC history.
Before his head coaching debut at Carson-Newman, Ahiers was an assistant at Seattle U in 2013. He served as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, and helped guide the Redhawks to a 9-7 record in the Western Athletic Conference.
Prior to his time in the Emerald City, Ahiers spent three years working for the "Queen" of college volleyball, Kathy Gregory at UCSB. With the Gauchos, Ahiers helped produce five All-Americans and 10 all-conference selections while helping bring in a pair of classes that were recognized as being top 30 in the nation.
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