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University of Houston Athletics
Houston Names Molly Alvey Head Volleyball Coach
1/25/2010 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Jan. 25, 2010
HOUSTON - University of Houston director of athletics Mack Rhoades announced Monday that Molly Alvey will be the Cougars next head volleyball coach.
"Molly will be a great leader and role model for our student-athletes, as she brings a winning demeanor to the court and classroom," Rhoades said. "Her fiery passion will undoubtedly prepare them for success in all areas of life. We are excited to have Molly join our Houston athletics family."
Alvey becomes just the fifth head coach in the programs' history after spending five seasons as an assistant coach at Ole Miss, including her final two as the associate head coach.
She brings a wealth of experience to the University and she sees a great deal of potential in the Cougar volleyball program.
"Houston is a place that obviously has been very, very successful in the past and has the potential to be there again, from a recruiting standpoint, from the name that Houston volleyball has throughout the country and where Mack is ready to lead the athletics' program," Alvey said.
In addition, Alvey said her decision to join the Houston staff was an easy choice based on Rhoades' vision.
"The number one reason that I chose Houston is Mack (Rhoades)," Alvey said. "His vision for volleyball and his vision for the athletic department, as a whole, is very clear and he is ready to move with it.
"He is an excellent communicator and is someone I feel extremely comfortable with as a supervisor. He is someone that has the same vision and values as I do which is important for running a successful program."
While on the Rebels' staff, Alvey was instrumental in guiding the volleyball program to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances in 2006 and 2007. During that time she also tutored multiple All-SEC selections, and as the team's recruiting coordinator was responsible for the signing of the nation's 23rd ranked recruiting class in 2009.
Much of her recruiting at Ole Miss was centered around the state of Texas, something she says will be very helpful in bringing talent to UH.
"I am extremely comfortable recruiting in Texas and recruiting is the basis for finding success in college athletics," Alvey added.
"You have to get the kids to the program that you need to win and to build upon the system that you want to utilize. With my recruiting experience at Ole Miss, half of our roster is from Texas and that's where I spend a lot of my time. Being able to build a program in Texas, I have the roots and the recruiting contacts that I need. I definitely think it's a program and a University that I can bring good kids to. In addition, the talent that we currently have at Houston will give me the jump-start that I need to get the program where I would like."
In 2006, Ole Miss advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history and tied the school record for conference wins with 10. The Rebels followed that up with a 25-9 mark in 2007 and a second-straight NCAA appearance.
Prior to Ole Miss, Alvey spent one season as the head coach at Southern Indiana in Evansville, Ind., in 2004. The Screaming Eagles finished the season 24-7, winning the Great Lakes Valley Conference regular season title with a 15-1 conference record. After winning the conference tournament title, Southern Indiana made the program's second NCAA Division II Tournament berth.
As head coach, Alvey was responsible for two All-Region selections and an All-America selection.
Alvey's coaching career began at Temple, where she was the graduate assistant for three seasons. There, she was part of the program that finished 72-25, won the Atlantic 10 Championship and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in 2002.
A four-year letterwinner at Centre College, Alvey held the career record in assists with 4,340 as the team's setter and helped her team to an 82-59 record during her four seasons. She was named an All-SCAC Third Team selection as junior and was honored as a first team selection her senior season. Alvey served two seasons as the team's captain, while helping the team to a fourth-place ranking, nationally, in digs per game.
In addition to her volleyball career, Alvey was also a member of the Centre College basketball team, earning Best Defensive Player honors twice, while being named to the All-SCAC Second Team as a junior. She holds the program's single-season three-point percentage record of .456 in 2000-01.
What They Are Saying About Molly Alvey
"Molly is an excellent hire. Her energy and knowledge of the game has helped Ole Miss be successful and she can do the same at the University of Houston. She is one of the fine up-and-coming women's coaches in the country, and she will put Houston at the top of its conference."
-Joe Getzin, Ole Miss Head Volleyball Coach
"Houston made a fantastic hire in Molly Alvey. She is one of the brightest young coaches in the business and is a fantastic recruiter. She is an incredible coach and she is going to bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm into the Houston program. She will get involved with the local and regional club teams right away and will make a splash."
- Anne Kordes, Saint Louis Head Volleyball Coach
"Molly brings great energy and passion to the position and I find her to be one of the top young coaches out there. "
- Russ Rose, Penn State Head Volleyball Coach
