Melissa Myers is entering her fifth season at Illinois State after spending six seasons at the helm of California University (PA), where she compiled three consecutive 30-win seasons.
In four seasons at Illinois State, Myers has led the Redbirds to a record of 65-60, three State Farm MVC Tournament appearances and has mentored eight All-Valley Players.
In 2011, Myers guided the Redbirds to 18 wins and a 3rd place finish at the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
Myers compiled a 161-49 (.767) record at California (Pa). She was named both the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West Coach of the Year and the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Regional Coach of the Year in 2004, 2005 and 2007. During the 2006 season, the Hastings, Pa., native became the winningest coach in Cal (Pa.) volleyball history.
In 2007, Myers led the Vulcans to a 35-4 record, with a 16-0 mark in the PSAC, and advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division II Tournament. It was just the second undefeated league slate in Cal (Pa.) history. The Vulcans also rattled off 33-consecutive wins during the stretch, and had three players garner all-America plaudits, including sophomore setter Renata da Silva's AVCA Third-Team honor.
In 2006, Cal (Pa.) posted a 30-7 record and advanced to the PSAC and NCAA Regional championship matches. One year earlier (2005), Myers guided the Vulcans to a 33-3 overall mark, capturing their first league title since 1992, along with a trip to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in the previous four seasons.
Prior to accepting the head coaching job at Cal (Pa.), Myers served four seasons as a college assistant coach. She spent three seasons (1998-2000) at PSAC West rival Lock Haven University, before moving onto Juniata College, her alma mater, where she served as an assistant coach for the men's volleyball program for one season (2001-02).
Myers was a four-year letterwinner, and three-year starting right side hitter, at Juniata College in volleyball and also excelled in track and field, while earning a bachelor's of science degree in human behavior and communications. She was inducted into the Juniata College Sports Hall of Fame in 2009 as the school's only two-sport All-American. She also earned her master's of science degree in exercise science and health promotion with an emphasis in performance enhancement, from California (Pa.) in July 2005.
Myers garnered numerous individual awards and recognition in her playing days, including a Middle Atlantic Conference Volleyball Player of the Year nod (1997), along with AVCA All-America honors. She also earned NCAA Track and Field All-America honors in 1998.
While at California (Pa.), Myers and her teams were annual volunteers for the Special Olympics. They were also involved in raising awareness and funds for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Myers was active in coaching club volleyball, as well as hosting and running several summer camps.
Prior to the 2005 season, Myers traveled with her team on a 12-day volleyball tour of China, visiting Beijing and Shanghai.
