Indiana University Athletics
IU ANNOUNCES NEW CONTRACT FOR VOLLEYBALL COACH SHERRY DUNBAR
8/15/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 15, 2011
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana University Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Fred Glass has announced that volleyball coach Sherry Dunbar has agreed to a new multi-year contract through the 2017 season. Her previous agreement would have expired after the 2012 season.
"I am thrilled that we have secured Coach Dunbar as the leader of our program for at least the next seven years. It is reflective of our commitment to competing successfully in volleyball, not only in the Big Ten Conference but also nationally," said Glass. "Sherry does a fabulous job with her student-athletes on and off the court."
Under the new agreement, Dunbar will be paid a base salary of $141,705.
Dunbar, an Ellettsville native, enters her fifth season at the helm of the program and has a career winning percentage of .690 (185-83). The Hoosiers advanced to the Sweet Sixteen in the 2010 NCAA Tournament, the best post season finish in school history.
Last year, the Hoosiers finished the season with a record of 23-12. The Hoosiers took down eventual national champion Penn State in a 3-1 thriller in Bloomington, knocking off the Nittany Lions for the first time in program history. IU hosted the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament, scoring wins over Tennessee and Miami (Fla.) in front of sold-out crowds at University Gymnasium.
Dunbar came to IU in 2007 and it took just over two years to convert a program which won a lone Big Ten match in the season prior to her arrival, into a team on the national radar. The 2009 season saw Indiana receive votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association's Coaches Top-25 Poll, rising as high as No. 39 in the country. The Hoosiers narrowly missed out on a trip to NCAA's.
In 2008, Dunbar's program took a big step with a 17-15 record that put them on the brink of an NCAA Tournament berth. Dunbar's player development capabilities have also become quite evident in her first four years directing the IU Hoosiers.
Ashley Benson became the first All-American in school history, earning third team honors in 2009 and first team honors in 2010, marking Coach Dunbar's second player to earn national recognition as Erica Short was an All-America honorable mention in '08. During her tenure, Dunbar has had 19 Academic All-Big Ten honorees and three Big Ten Distinguished Scholars.
"I am excited to have the confidence of the administration in what we've done over the past four years and the mutual goals we have for the future of the program," noted Dunbar. " I love the opportunity to coach and compete at the highest level, develop independent leaders who make a difference and represent IU every day. It is truly a dream job for me."
