Morgan to lead UH-Hilo volleyball
By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
After a six-month search, Hawai'i-Hilo selected former Punahou graduate and Salt Lake Community College coach Julie Morgan to lead its women's volleyball program, UH-Hilo athletic director Kathleen McNally said yesterday.
Morgan replaces longtime coach Sharon Peterson, who announced her retirement in December. Peterson, who coached Morgan at Punahou, was the only intercollegiate volleyball coach UH-Hilo has ever had and guided the Vulcans for 25 years.
The Vulcan volleyball program — the school's flagship women's sport — won seven national championships and compiled a 511-251 record under Peterson. In the past five years, UH-Hilo had one winning season and was 51-80 during that span.
Morgan compiled a 415-233 record during her 19-year career as head coach at the University of Utah (1984-86), Illinois State University (1987-99) and Salt Lake Community College (2000-02). Utah and Illinois State compete in Division I. UH-Hilo competes in Division II.
In 1999, Morgan's Illinois State team lost a five-game match to UH-Manoa in the Aston Imua Wahine Volleyball Challenge.
"I think Julie is a very strong, dynamic individual," said McNally, who said Morgan will start June 2. "She brings the two components that the Vulcan volleyball program really needs ... the capability of national networking and recruiting experience. In addition to her great career as a coach, Julie is truly coming home."
Morgan has earned six coach-of-the-year awards. At Illinois State, her teams won six league titles and made eight NCAA Division I postseason appearances.
"She has a very proven coaching record," McNally said. "If you look at what she's done over her entire career, she's grown gradually and continually achieved. Her programs have continued to win. Her teams continue to be ranked at the national level. Every time Julie coaches a team, success has been their standard."
McNally called Morgan a "hands-on person" and hoped that she could rejuvenate the UH-Hilo volleyball program.
"No matter what the recruiting budget or the intent of the program, she's been successful," McNally said. "That is what I see her doing for the Vulcan program."
Morgan graduated from Punahou School in 1974 and became a three-sport athlete at both the University of Southern California and UCLA. She was the co-captain of the 1976 national championship volleyball team from USC and qualified for nationals in track and field while attending UCLA. Her third sport was basketball.
Morgan started her club volleyball career at age 14 and played for Chris McLachlin and the original Nick's Fishmarket Hawai'i team. At Punahou, Morgan was coached by former Olympians Peterson and Mary Perry. She also learned beach volleyball from Tom "Daddy" Haine at the Outrigger Canoe Club.
Morgan has been affiliated with the National Junior College Athletic Association, NCAA, American Volleyball Coaches Association and USA Volleyball. She also served on the AVCA board of directors and chaired the All-America Committee. She's also coached club volleyball at both 18-and-under and 17-and-under levels with one team qualifying for the Junior Olympics.
