Following a distinguished 34-year collegiate head coaching career, Macalester volleyball coach Stephanie Schleuder announced her retirement from coaching Dec. 9, 2009. Macalester’s volleyball coach for 12 years, Schleuder retires with 702 career victories to rank among the all-time leaders in the college ranks.
Schleuder remains on staff in a part-time capacity. She will continue on as Coordinator of Intramurals and Outreach. She will direct several outreach initiatives such as team recruiting brochures, award nominations and social media.
Schleuder began her head coaching career at Bemidji State University in 1972. She was head coach at the University of Alabama from 1974-81 and head coach at the University of Minnesota from 1982-94, and became the Macalester coach in 1998. She will remain in the Macalester athletic department part-time in various roles, including intramurals and other special projects.
“After 34 years of coaching, this just seemed to be the right time,” said Schleuder. “Everything must end, but I am excited about the opportunity to continue working at Macalester on a part-time basis, doing some projects for the Athletic Department. Macalester is a unique place and I continue to value my time here with the people who make it so special. I also have some other interests I have always wanted to pursue, so it will be nice to have some time to do those things.”
“Steph has had a remarkable 34-year career which encompasses major accomplishments as a coach, a national leader in the sport of volleyball and a pioneer and advocate for women in intercollegiate sport,” commented Macalester Director of Athletics Kim Chandler. “I am thankful for Steph’s years of service to Macalester and greatly appreciate and respect her longstanding dedication and commitment to her student-athletes and her profession.”
Schleuder was president of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) from 2002-04 and was the only non-Division I coach ever to be elected president of the 3,800-member national coaches association.
In addition to serving as president of the AVCA, Schleuder has played several leadership roles with USA Volleyball. She received the Karen Johnson Human Relations Award from USA Volleyball for her work on behalf of volleyball and in 2007 received a Boyce Award from USA Volleyball Foundation, winning a George J. Fisher Leader in Volleyball Award. Since its inception Schleuder has served as a Cadre Instructor in the Coaches Accreditation Program (CAP). In 1990 she coached the North Team to the Gold Medal in the U.S. Olympic Festival.
Schleuder is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, Duluth, where she was he was the first woman inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2005 Coach Schleuder was inducted into the Minnesota Volleyball Hall of Fame and in '06 was honored at the Minnesota State Capitol with an award at the Minnesota National Girls and Women in Sports Day.
“My years as a college coach have been an incredible ride and I look back with immense fondness at the hundreds of wonderful student-athletes I have had the privilege of coaching,” said Schleuder.
