Eastern Michigan Athletics
Darcy Dorton Named EMU Volleyball Head Coach
2/18/2019 11:38:00 AM | Volleyball
Dorton had been the Eagles' top assistant the previous four seasons
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University Vice President/Director of Athletics Scott Wetherbee has named Darcy Dorton as the head coach of the volleyball program. Dorton had served as an assistant coach for the program for the previous four seasons.
"Darcy has been instrumental in our volleyball program's growth and success over the last four seasons," Wetherbee said. "She has done an excellent job in her role as an assistant coach and has helped change our program through successful recruiting efforts. Darcy has been successful at every stop throughout her career. Her past experience as a student-athlete, vision for how our program can grow, and familiarity with our current team made her stand out during our search. I am confident that our volleyball student-athletes will continue to have a great experience under her leadership."
This will be Dorton's first head coaching opportunity, but she's no stranger to success with a combined six NCAA Tournament appearances, five conference titles, and two NCAA National Championships in her playing and coaching career. As a student-athlete at Penn State University and the College of Charleston, she compiled an .845 winning percentage (147-27). Furthermore, Dorton is believed to be the only player in NCAA Division I volleyball history to win conference titles in three different conferences (Big Ten, Southern, and Colonial).
"First and foremost, I would like to thank Scott Wetherbee, Erin Kido, and the rest of the search committee for giving me the opportunity to lead the Eastern Michigan volleyball program," said Dorton. "I would also like to thank Kimi Olson for the work she did in laying a strong foundation for the EMU program and in preparing me for this opportunity. I believe so strongly in this program's ability to be great and am ready to take on the challenge of defending Eastern Michigan Volleyball's first Mid-American Conference Tournament Championship title."
Dorton joined the Eagles in 2015, helping the team make Mid-American Conference Tournament appearances in three of those four seasons. In 2018, Eastern Michigan reached new heights, winning its first MAC Tournament Championship in program history and first-ever bid to the NCAA Tournament, where it fell to No. 3 Illinois, which went on to participate in the Final Four.
In 2018 alone, Cassie Haut was named the MAC Tournament's Most Valuable Player, while Alyssa LaFace became the first EMU player since 2002 to be named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Region team, while also earning a spot on the All-MAC First Team along with Haut and Jordan Smith. Over four seasons, she helped coach five All-MAC honorees, as well as 22 Academic All-MAC selections.
Dorton was charged with training and player development for the Eagles. In 2018, Haut led the MAC in hitting percentage (.377) and the squad paced the league in assists (13.35) and kills (14.16) per set. A season prior, the Eagles were tops in blocks (320), while Samantha Falco finished second in blocks per set (1.18) and Kelly Ferguson was second in hitting percentage (.370).
Before joining the coaching ranks, Dorton had an outstanding collegiate career at Penn State (2009-11) and the College of Charleston (2012-13).
While competing as a Nittany Lion, Dorton was named Big Ten Conference's Freshman of the Year in 2009 and helped Penn State to a National Championship that same season. She was an AVCA Honorable Mention All-American and AVCA Mideast Region Freshman of the Year honoree.
The Nittany Lions did not lose a set in the NCAA Tournament until the national semifinals against Hawai'i, but won that match, 3–1, to set up a showdown against No. 2 Texas. Dorton recorded 13 kills in the matchup with the Longhorns. She finished her freshman campaign with 66 blocks, while ranking fourth on the team in kills with 276.
She was a member of the 2010 team that also won a National Championship with a 32-5 record. A captain in 2011, the Nittany Lions finished the year with a 25-8 mark in the semifinals of the NCAA East Regional.
Dorton transferred to CofC prior the 2012 season. In her first season with the Cougars she was named 2012 AVCA All-American Honorable Mention, the first in the program's history, along with AVCA All-South Region and First Team All-Southern Conference. Dorton led the Cougars with a career-best 27 kills in a first round victory in the NCAA Tournament over No. 23 Miami (Fla.). The Muncie, Ind. native led the team in kills with 529, which was the most single-season kills in school history during rally scoring era. Her 4.20 kills per set in a single season ranked fourth in College of Charleston record books.
In 2013, Dorton began her sand volleyball career at CofC, teaming up with Andi Zbojniewicz. The duo became extremely successful posting a 7-2 record on the season. In her final indoor season, Dorton was named the Colonial Athletic Association's Player of the Year and First Team All-CAA. She was named the CAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player after a 19-kill effort in the championship match. Dorton finished second in the conference in kills per set (3.60) and points (437) and won CAA Player of Week honors on four separate occasions. She also surpassed 1,000 kills combined in her time spent at College of Charleston and Penn State when she posted 16 kills against James Madison, Oct. 4, 2013.
Dorton is the ninth full-time head coach since the program began in 1976.
"Darcy has been instrumental in our volleyball program's growth and success over the last four seasons," Wetherbee said. "She has done an excellent job in her role as an assistant coach and has helped change our program through successful recruiting efforts. Darcy has been successful at every stop throughout her career. Her past experience as a student-athlete, vision for how our program can grow, and familiarity with our current team made her stand out during our search. I am confident that our volleyball student-athletes will continue to have a great experience under her leadership."
This will be Dorton's first head coaching opportunity, but she's no stranger to success with a combined six NCAA Tournament appearances, five conference titles, and two NCAA National Championships in her playing and coaching career. As a student-athlete at Penn State University and the College of Charleston, she compiled an .845 winning percentage (147-27). Furthermore, Dorton is believed to be the only player in NCAA Division I volleyball history to win conference titles in three different conferences (Big Ten, Southern, and Colonial).
"First and foremost, I would like to thank Scott Wetherbee, Erin Kido, and the rest of the search committee for giving me the opportunity to lead the Eastern Michigan volleyball program," said Dorton. "I would also like to thank Kimi Olson for the work she did in laying a strong foundation for the EMU program and in preparing me for this opportunity. I believe so strongly in this program's ability to be great and am ready to take on the challenge of defending Eastern Michigan Volleyball's first Mid-American Conference Tournament Championship title."
Dorton joined the Eagles in 2015, helping the team make Mid-American Conference Tournament appearances in three of those four seasons. In 2018, Eastern Michigan reached new heights, winning its first MAC Tournament Championship in program history and first-ever bid to the NCAA Tournament, where it fell to No. 3 Illinois, which went on to participate in the Final Four.
In 2018 alone, Cassie Haut was named the MAC Tournament's Most Valuable Player, while Alyssa LaFace became the first EMU player since 2002 to be named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Region team, while also earning a spot on the All-MAC First Team along with Haut and Jordan Smith. Over four seasons, she helped coach five All-MAC honorees, as well as 22 Academic All-MAC selections.
Dorton was charged with training and player development for the Eagles. In 2018, Haut led the MAC in hitting percentage (.377) and the squad paced the league in assists (13.35) and kills (14.16) per set. A season prior, the Eagles were tops in blocks (320), while Samantha Falco finished second in blocks per set (1.18) and Kelly Ferguson was second in hitting percentage (.370).
Before joining the coaching ranks, Dorton had an outstanding collegiate career at Penn State (2009-11) and the College of Charleston (2012-13).
While competing as a Nittany Lion, Dorton was named Big Ten Conference's Freshman of the Year in 2009 and helped Penn State to a National Championship that same season. She was an AVCA Honorable Mention All-American and AVCA Mideast Region Freshman of the Year honoree.
The Nittany Lions did not lose a set in the NCAA Tournament until the national semifinals against Hawai'i, but won that match, 3–1, to set up a showdown against No. 2 Texas. Dorton recorded 13 kills in the matchup with the Longhorns. She finished her freshman campaign with 66 blocks, while ranking fourth on the team in kills with 276.
She was a member of the 2010 team that also won a National Championship with a 32-5 record. A captain in 2011, the Nittany Lions finished the year with a 25-8 mark in the semifinals of the NCAA East Regional.
Dorton transferred to CofC prior the 2012 season. In her first season with the Cougars she was named 2012 AVCA All-American Honorable Mention, the first in the program's history, along with AVCA All-South Region and First Team All-Southern Conference. Dorton led the Cougars with a career-best 27 kills in a first round victory in the NCAA Tournament over No. 23 Miami (Fla.). The Muncie, Ind. native led the team in kills with 529, which was the most single-season kills in school history during rally scoring era. Her 4.20 kills per set in a single season ranked fourth in College of Charleston record books.
In 2013, Dorton began her sand volleyball career at CofC, teaming up with Andi Zbojniewicz. The duo became extremely successful posting a 7-2 record on the season. In her final indoor season, Dorton was named the Colonial Athletic Association's Player of the Year and First Team All-CAA. She was named the CAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player after a 19-kill effort in the championship match. Dorton finished second in the conference in kills per set (3.60) and points (437) and won CAA Player of Week honors on four separate occasions. She also surpassed 1,000 kills combined in her time spent at College of Charleston and Penn State when she posted 16 kills against James Madison, Oct. 4, 2013.
Dorton is the ninth full-time head coach since the program began in 1976.
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