Niagara University Names Clements Volleyball Coach
MAAC Sports
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. ? Niagara University Director of Athletics Ed McLaughlin announced Wednesday that Susan Clements has been named the ninth head coach of the Purple Eagle volleyball program.
"Our student-athletes and our entire department are excited to have Susan join us," McLaughlin said. "She comes from a family of coaches and brings a record of success on and off the floor. Susan’s work ethic and leadership will provide a positive role model for the Purple Eagles."
Clements comes to Monteagle Ridge from Georgetown College in Kentucky where she was the head coach of the Lady Tiger program in 2005 and 2006.
"I am excited for the opportunity at Niagara and the chance to build a winning tradition," Clements said. "The support and positive direction of the athletic department and University is showing towards the program and I was a big factor in my decision to accept the position."
In her first year as a head coach, Clements led Georgetown to records of 40-10 overall and 10-0 in the Mid-Southern Conference. The Lady Tigers won the regular season, Mid-South Tournament and Region IX titles and earned a berth into the NAIA National Championship Tournament. Georgetown finished the season ranked 10th nationally. Under Clements’ tutelage, Amy Schiller was named a second team all-American for the second time in her career, two Lady Tigers earned all-region accolades, five earned all-conference honors and one all-academic recognition. Clements also was honored as the Mid-Southern Conference and AVCA Region XI Coach of the Year.
In 2006, the Lady Tigers finished with a 34-15 overall record and 7-3 mark in the Mid-South. For the second consecutive year, the Lady Tigers captured the conference regular season and tournament titles, the Region XI crown and accepted an automatic berth to the national tournament. In the polls, the Lady Tigers finished 25th nationally.
A 2002 Georgetown College graduate, Clements spent two seasons as assistant coach after a standout career as a Lady Tiger. During her three seasons, she was a three-time first team Mid-Southern All-Conference and All-Region XI selection, and was named Mid-Southern Conference and Region XI Player of the Year twice. Clements was also named to the NAIA’s National Tournament All-Tournament team all three seasons.
Clements was Georgetown College’s second female student-athlete named a NAIA First Team All-American, earning the honor as a junior and senior.
Prior to beginning her coaching career, Clements spent the summer of 2003 as a member of a professional volleyball tour which competed in five European countries. She was offered playing contracts in Switzerland and Germany.
Prior to taking the assistant coach’s job at Georgetown, the Lynchburg, Va., native coached at Nike High Performance camps and worked several elite summer camps at the University of North Carolina. She also worked as a kinesiology specialist in Connecticut.