URBANA, Ohio – Urbana University Athletic Director Doug Young announced the hiring of new Head Volleyball Coach Troy Haught.
“We are thrilled to have Troy on board as our new head volleyball coach,” said Young. “His enthusiasm for the sport and positive energy is just what the program needs going forward.”
Haught has experience playing and coaching volleyball at nearly every level. Most recently, Haught was the Head Volleyball Coach at Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School, where he guided the Lady Bees to a 16-8 mark this past season.
Haught has also made stops at Oberlin College, Minerva High School, Glen Oak High School, and he has an extensive background coaching Junior Olympic Volleyball at the regional and national levels for Elite Sports. Two of Haught’s teams advanced all the way to the AAU Nationals. In five seasons at the high school level, he compiled a 71-48 record.
Haught received his undergraduate degree from Kent State University in 2009. Before his hiring, Haught was working towards his Master’s Degree in Education at Cleveland State University. He hopes to finish that degree during his time at Urbana.
As a player, Haught competed at the national club level in high school. He still plays competitive indoor and men’s sand volleyball. His new position at Urbana University is his first collegiate head coaching job.
“First and foremost, I’d like to thank the Urbana University Athletic Department for the opportunity to rejoin the college ranks and become a head coach at the Division II level,” announced Haught upon his hiring. “After meeting with the team during the interview process, I knew there was an opportunity for success in the future with this program. The student-athletes and I are excited about the new conference and eager to turn the program around.”
Under Haught this fall, the Blue Knights will end their D-II independent status and compete in the brand new Great Midwest Athletic Conference, or G-MAC. Urbana finished the 2011 season with an 8-26 overall record, but the Blue Knights finished 3-2 against future conference foes Central State, Ursuline and Cedarville. First-time opponents Kentucky Wesleyan and Trevecca Nazarene also make up the new G-MAC and appear on the Blue Knights’ 2012 schedule.