[Students] Craig Case Named Head Volleyball Coach at Texas A&M University-Commerce

[Daniel Kambel]

Texas A&M University-Commerce announced today the hiring of Craig Case as
the new head volleyball coach.
 
³We are very excited to have Craig Case join our Lion athletic family. He
brings a wealth of experience and strong national recruiting ties to our
program. We were looking for a volleyball coach to take our program to the
next level as a nationally recognized program. We have selected the right
person by choosing Craig Case to lead our volleyball program,² said
A&M-Commerce athletic director Carlton Cooper.
 
³Craig Case brings a high level of energy and enthusiasm to our volleyball
program.  His experience and competitive spirit will take the team to the
next level.  His dedication to students will ensure that our student
athletes will win both on and off the court,² said A&M-Commerce president
Dr. Dan Jones.
 
Case comes to A&M-Commerce with an extensive volleyball coaching career,
including the last four seasons at Valley City State University in Valley
City, North Dakota. In addition to serving as the Head Volleyball Coach, he
also served as an instructor and as the school¹s Sports Information
Director. He guided the Vikings to its first winning season in nearly a
decade and currently ranks third all-time in career wins in the program.
 
At VCSU, Case coached the athletic department¹s first-ever, first-team
female All-American, two academic all-americans, an AVCA/NAIA Regional
Player of the Year as well as multiple players, who earned conference
recognition from the Dakota Athletic Conference. Among the recognition were
two DAC Liberos of the Year and a DAC Player of the Year. Twice, his team
was recognized by the NAIA as Champions of Character and was recognized by
the AVCA for its academic success. Concurrently, he has also been involved
as the Director of the Valley City Juniors Volleyball Club.
 
Case served as the Head Volleyball Coach at St. Gregory¹s University in
Shawnee, Oklahoma as they restarted their volleyball program in 2005, where
he had a player earn all-Sooner Athletic Conference honors. Prior to that,
he served for three seasons as an assistant coach and assistant in the
athletic development office at Northern State University, where he directed
two all-region performers and five all-Northern Sun Intercollegiate
Conference selections, a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Libero of
the Year and the team earned academic honors from the AVCA all three years.
 
He has been active with volleyball camps ranging from remedial developmental
to elite performance camps. He has served as a speaker at the North Dakota,
South Dakota and the Oklahoma Volleyball Coaches Association clinics.
 
Case received his bachelor¹s degree from St. Cloud State University in 1999
and holds a master¹s degree in education from St. Lawrence University and
received his master¹s degree in education with an emphasis in Physical
Education, Health and Coaching at Northern State University.
 
What Others Are Saying About Coach Case:
Sharon Dingman, University of Iowa Head Volleyball Coach:
³Craig is the consummate professional. He will continue to build Texas A&M
University-Commerce into a championship caliber program. Craig is so
passionate about developing players that I¹m certain he will enrich the
lives of his student-athletes and the entire athletic department.²

B.J. Pumroy, Valley City State University Athletic Director:
³Craig will not only be missed by the VCSU campus but by the Valley City
community as well. He has been a driving force in furthering the sport of
volleyball in the community. His skills as a team member of the athletic
department will be difficult to replicate.²
 
Sundance Wicks, Northern Illinois University Assistant Men¹s Basketball
Coach:
³Texas A&M University-Commerce hit the jackpot when they decided to hire
Craig Case to lead a new era in their volleyball program.  There are only a
handful of coaches who are the complete package and able to develop players
as much mentally as well as physically.  His unbridled passion for the game
allows Coach Case to be one of those rare coaches.  What ever his teams
need, Coach Case is able to help them find an edge and keep his players
sharp.  There is absolutely know one who studies their craft more, respects
the game, and wants to get the community involved in his program as much as
Coach Case. He is unequivocally a phenomenal hire!²

Jason Allen, University of Iowa Assistant Volleyball Coach:
³I have had the privilege of knowing Craig for almost ten years now.
Craig¹s intensity, passion, and knowledge of the game have allowed him to be
successful with every program he has touched.  His strong work ethic and
vibrant personality will be great assets as he continues the A&M-Commerce
tradition.  Texas A&M University­Commerce has made an outstanding hire and I
look forward to watching the program reach new heights under Craig¹s
leadership.