April 25, 2005
Cullowhee, N.C. -
Western Carolina University Director of Athletics Chip Smith today announced that former Centre College head coach Stephanie Dragan will become the volleyball program's seventh head coach all-time.
"I am extremely excited and honored to be hired at WCU as head coach," said Dragan. "I can not wait to get to campus, meet with the team, and to get started recruiting. There is a lot of work that needs to be done and I am ready to get started. There seems to be a strong nucleus of athletes returning and together we will work hard to become the best team we can possibly be."
Dragan will assume control of the Catamount program from former head coach and WCU alum Angell Benson, who resigned from her position in late-March to devote more time to her family.
"I am pleased that Stephanie will join Western Carolina as our head volleyball coach," said Smith. "During the interview, it became evident very quickly that she was excited about coaching and the opportunity to do so as a Catamount. She is a player's coach with a solid record and the drive and energy to make WCU Volleyball very successful."
Dragan has spent the past seven seasons as the head coach of Centre College in Danville, Ky., which is about 35 miles south of Lexington. She has compiled an overall record of 159-107 (.597) with the Colonels' program, including five-consecutive 20-plus win seasons after finishing with 28 victories and an unblemished home record a year ago.
While at Centre, Dragan has produced an All-American, two all-region players, and 15 All-Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) selections. She also coached the 2003 and 2004 SCAC Freshmen of the Year, with last year's honoree, Sarah Burger, named as the South Region Freshman of the Year by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). Last season, Centre was also awarded four SCAC Player of the Week selections, the second-most in the conference.
Dragan also coached Centre's Leah Ballinger, who became the SCAC's all-time leader in assists last season. She finished her career with 5,997 assists having seen action in every match during her four years. In 2001, Dragan was named the SCAC Coach of the Year after leading the Colonels to a 26-8 overall record.
Originally from Bedford, Ohio, Dragan was a standout setter at Shawnee State University in Portsmouth, Ohio where she earned a bachelor of arts degree in social science in 1994. She began her coaching career at Agnes Scott College, a private liberal arts college in Decatur, Ga. In addition to directing the Scotties' volleyball program for two seasons, Dragan also coached softball.
