UNLV has announced Dawn Sullivan as their new head coach. Sullivan spent the last 13 seasons as an assistant and eventually associate head coach at Iowa State.
During Sullivan’s time at Iowa State, the team had an overall 268-130 (.673) record. Part of her primary responsibility was working with the outside hitters, and during her 13 years with the team the Cyclones recorded 10 of the top-11 single-season hitting percentages in school history. She also worked to transition a pair of middle blockers to the outside in each of the last two seasons. In 2016, she transitioned Samara West to right side hitter, where she would go on to earn two All-BIg 12 honors, and in 2017 she helped Alexis Conway transition from the middle to 6-rotation outside hitter mid-season, and Conway became the team’s first player to record 100 blocks, 100 kills, and 100 digs since 2011.
She also worked with transitioning 2015 Big 12 Freshman of the Year Jess Schaben to a 6-rotation player, which jumped Schaben to AVCA Honorable Mention All-America.
As a player, Sulivan was a 4-year outside hitter at Kansas State from 1996-1999. She recorded 1,611 kills and 1,258 digs in her career, making her one of only 5 players in Kansas State history to join the 1000/1000 club. She ranks 3rd in the school’s history in kills and 4th in digs, and in 2016 was inducted into the Kansas State Athletics Hall of Fame.
We are thrilled to welcome Dawn to the Rebel Family and I am confident that she will lead our volleyball program to lasting success,” said UNLV Director of Athletics Desiree Reed-Francois. “She shares our core values, has demonstrated success as an exceptional recruiter and has an uncanny proven ability to connect with and develop student-athletes. She will bring passion, compassion and a competitive spirit that will resonate with our past, current and future student-athletes. We are looking forward to having Dawn, Josh and their children at UNLV.”
UNLV was 8-23 last season, and just 4-14 in Mountain West Conference play. Sullivan replaces outgoing coach Cindy Fredrick, whose contract was not renewed after last season. In 7 seasons at UNLV, she had a 122-94 overall record, and until 2017 had recorded winning seasons in each of her first 6 seasons. That includes 2016, where the team was 24-8 and advanced to the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament.
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