Coastal Carolina has hired Steve Loeswick as their new beach volleyball coach. He joins the program after 6 years as the head indoor and beach volleyball coach at Division II North Florida. The move comes about 6 weeks before the start of the NCAA beach volleyball season.
Coastal Carolina was 3-11 in 2015-2016, its first season of varsity beach competition, and last year finished just 1-15 – with the lone win coming over Division III Stevenson University.
Loeswick replaces Justin Stack, who spent 1 season as head volleyball coach in joint with an operations role with the indoor team.
Coastal Carolina returns 9 players from its 2017 roster for 2018 (no new players have been announced yet). That includes 4 members of the NCAA Championship indoor team. Indoor All-American Leah Hardeman will return for her senior season – she played in 4 matches for the beach team last year at the #4 and #5 line.
Loeswick will have a fairly clean slate to work with at Coastal Carolina. 3 of the top 4 players in the team’s lineup graduated, including #1 pair Tahleia Bishop/Natasa Savovic, who were a bright spot for the team with a 10-6 record at the top of the ladder.
Prior to North Florida, Loeswick spent 14 years as a collegiate indoor coach. Prior stops. That includes a 2009 SEC title with LSU (their first since 1991), and a 28-6, Sweet 16 season with Oklahoma in 2006:
- Cornell (1998-2003)
- Oklahoma (2004-2006)
- LSU (2007-2011)
As an athlete, Loeswick spent 4 years as the starting setter for USC’s indoor team, becoming just the 3rd player in school history to start at the same position for 4 seasons in program history. He then played professionally in Germany.
“I would like to thank Director of Athletics Matt Hogue, Associate Athletic Director Cari Rosiek and the many others involved during the interview process for the opportunity to join this tremendous athletic department,” said Loeswick. “Many of the Chanticleer sports programs are extremely successful not only within the conference but also on a national level, and I am looking forward to building that type of culture with the Coastal beach volleyball program. Coastal Carolina University has many great educational programs of study and being right near Myrtle Beach, it is a perfect place to be a student-athlete. I can’t wait to start laying the foundation for this program as we strive for excellence on the court, in the classroom, and in the community!”
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