Michele Benoit becomes the ninth head coach in the University of Wisconsin-Parkside's women's volleyball history. Benoit will begin her appointment July 1.

            Benoit takes over for Rob Wolter, who was the interim head coach last fall. The 2008 Rangers posted an overall record of 10-22 which included a 3-15 mark in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

            “Michele is a proven coach who understands the commitment to academics and athletics,” said UW-Parkside interim athletic director Tamie Falk-Day. “Her enthusiasm and passion for the game will be immediately felt by the players and fans.”

            The new Ranger head coach has a career record of 400-137, all at Mount St. Joseph's, an NCAA Division III school, located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her run at the Cincinnati school was from 1995-2008 and produced 10 regular season conference titles and 10 conference tournament championships. She compiled a lofty .744 winning percentage in her tenure with the Lions.

            “I am very excited to be a member of the UW-Parkside athletic department as well as to have the opportunity to lead the Ranger volleyball program,” stated Benoit. “The GLVC is an excellent volleyball conference. The challenge to move into the ranks of Division II in such a competitive conference is an opportunity that does not occur too often in one's professional career.”

            Benoit's coaching success has garnered a myriad of individual awards, including five Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year awards. She was named an NCAA Regional Coach of the Year twice.

            At Mount St. Joseph's, Benoit's teams were ranked in the nation's Top Ten in each season from 1999-2004 and in the Top 25 in 2005 and 2008. She was also an assistant Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator at the school.

            Benoit earned an undergraduate degree in Education/Physical Education, Health Education, from Ashland University (Ashland, Ohio). She went on to earn a Master's degree in Education/Exercise Physiology from the University of Akron (Akron, Ohio).

            UW-Parkside, which began women's volleyball in 1975, has a program record of 639-624-5. The Rangers will open the 2009 campaign at Northern Michigan University Thursday, Aug. 27. Beniot will make her home debut Thursday, Sept. 10, versus Winona State.

            “The area in which Parkside is located should afford me a great place to start the recruiting process for the coming seasons,” added Benoit.

                                                                       UWP all-time record