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University of Houston Athletics
Rehr Hires New Volleyball Support Staff
7/21/2023 3:00:00 PM | Volleyball
The team adds a new director of operations, graduate assistant and athletic trainer
HOUSTON – University of Houston Volleyball Head Coach David Rehr has hired three new members to the team's support staff, the team announced Friday. Rehr's additions include Shaughn McDonald as the team's director of operations, Lauren Deaton as the squad's graduate assistant and Autumn Hammel as the team's athletic trainer.Â
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SHAUGHN McDONALD – DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Shaughn McDonald was most recently the Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at his Alma Mater, Saint Francis University (PA). While at Saint Francis McDonald helped lead the Red Flash to their first post season appearance in seven years. McDonald coached four of All-Conference honorees, including NEC Player of the Year, Madi Tyus and NEC Rookie of the Year Maggie Hogan.
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McDonald joined the Red Flash after a stint at the University of Pittsburgh as the Interim Director of Volleyball Operations, where he worked closely with the women's volleyball team with their day-to-day operations. McDonald was previously a volunteer assistant at Pitt for the 2018 season where he helped the program to its second consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference Championship in 2018.
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Prior to his most recent time at Pitt, McDonald worked at The University of South Florida as the Director of Volleyball Operations, assisting with the daily operations of the volleyball program, scouting and DataVolley operations.
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Across the years McDonald has worked in the club volleyball scene with stints at Pittsburgh Elite Volleyball Association, St. Pete Volleyball Club (Fla.) and Absolute Volleyball Academy of Texas (AVA).
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A native of Pittsburgh, Penn., McDonald graduated from Saint Francis University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Sports Management, where he was a member of the Men's Volleyball Program from 2014-2018.
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LAUREN DEATON – GRADUATE ASSISTANT
Deaton joins the Cougar Volleyball staff after five seasons as an outside hitter at Samford University. The program's record holder in kills and attacks, she also sits at fourth all-time on the team's digs list. After a COVID-delayed 2020 season where tallied 337 kills, averaging 4.49 per set, Deaton was an AVCA All-American Honorable Mention and the Southern Conference (SoCon) Player of the Year.
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A five-time member of the SoCon All-Conference Team, she was a first team selection in 2019 and the COVID-delayed 2020 season. She was also the 2018 SoCon Freshman of the Year and was the Most Outstanding Player in the 2020 SoCon Tournament.Â
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Over her career, she posted 1,811 kills with 120 aces, while also tallying 1,566 digs and 158 total blocks.
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AUTUMN HAMMEL, MHHS, LAT, ATC – ATHLETIC TRAINER
Hammel joins Houston Volleyball after spending a year working with Houston's Swim and Dive team. Prior to arriving at Houston, she worked as a graduate assistant athletic trainer at Youngstown State, assisting the volleyball, lacrosse, cheerleading and swimming teams. She was also an undergraduate assistant at West Virginia Athletics, working with the WVU women's soccer, football and cheerleading teams as well as other organizations.Â
Hammel graduated with a master's degree from Youngstown State and a bachelor's degree from WVU. She's also a Certified Athletic Trainer and a Licensed Athletic Trainer.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISEÂ
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference. Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023. Click here to rise and be counted.
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JOIN POINT HOUSTON CLUB
Fans can help support the Houston Volleyball program by joining the Point HOUSTON Club. For more information about the Point HOUSTON Club, fans can click here or call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4684).
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STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarVB on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarVB. Fans also can follow the team on Instagram at @UHCougarVB.
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SHAUGHN McDONALD – DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Shaughn McDonald was most recently the Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at his Alma Mater, Saint Francis University (PA). While at Saint Francis McDonald helped lead the Red Flash to their first post season appearance in seven years. McDonald coached four of All-Conference honorees, including NEC Player of the Year, Madi Tyus and NEC Rookie of the Year Maggie Hogan.
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McDonald joined the Red Flash after a stint at the University of Pittsburgh as the Interim Director of Volleyball Operations, where he worked closely with the women's volleyball team with their day-to-day operations. McDonald was previously a volunteer assistant at Pitt for the 2018 season where he helped the program to its second consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference Championship in 2018.
Â
Prior to his most recent time at Pitt, McDonald worked at The University of South Florida as the Director of Volleyball Operations, assisting with the daily operations of the volleyball program, scouting and DataVolley operations.
Â
Across the years McDonald has worked in the club volleyball scene with stints at Pittsburgh Elite Volleyball Association, St. Pete Volleyball Club (Fla.) and Absolute Volleyball Academy of Texas (AVA).
Â
A native of Pittsburgh, Penn., McDonald graduated from Saint Francis University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Sports Management, where he was a member of the Men's Volleyball Program from 2014-2018.
Â
LAUREN DEATON – GRADUATE ASSISTANT
Deaton joins the Cougar Volleyball staff after five seasons as an outside hitter at Samford University. The program's record holder in kills and attacks, she also sits at fourth all-time on the team's digs list. After a COVID-delayed 2020 season where tallied 337 kills, averaging 4.49 per set, Deaton was an AVCA All-American Honorable Mention and the Southern Conference (SoCon) Player of the Year.
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A five-time member of the SoCon All-Conference Team, she was a first team selection in 2019 and the COVID-delayed 2020 season. She was also the 2018 SoCon Freshman of the Year and was the Most Outstanding Player in the 2020 SoCon Tournament.Â
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Over her career, she posted 1,811 kills with 120 aces, while also tallying 1,566 digs and 158 total blocks.
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AUTUMN HAMMEL, MHHS, LAT, ATC – ATHLETIC TRAINER
Hammel joins Houston Volleyball after spending a year working with Houston's Swim and Dive team. Prior to arriving at Houston, she worked as a graduate assistant athletic trainer at Youngstown State, assisting the volleyball, lacrosse, cheerleading and swimming teams. She was also an undergraduate assistant at West Virginia Athletics, working with the WVU women's soccer, football and cheerleading teams as well as other organizations.Â
Hammel graduated with a master's degree from Youngstown State and a bachelor's degree from WVU. She's also a Certified Athletic Trainer and a Licensed Athletic Trainer.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISEÂ
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference. Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023. Click here to rise and be counted.
Â
JOIN POINT HOUSTON CLUB
Fans can help support the Houston Volleyball program by joining the Point HOUSTON Club. For more information about the Point HOUSTON Club, fans can click here or call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4684).
Â
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarVB on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarVB. Fans also can follow the team on Instagram at @UHCougarVB.
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