Mike Schall, Susan Clements to Join Carolina Volleyball Staff

CHAPEL HILL – North Carolina head coach Joe Sagula is pleased to announce the addition of new assistant coaches Mike Schall and Susan Clements Wednesday. Schall and Clements will replace long-time assistants Eve Rackham and Tyler Adams.

"I am very happy to welcome two very experienced and accomplished coaches to Chapel Hill, and our athletic department as they add to the strong traditions we have established here at Carolina," Sagula said. "The opportunity to bring two highly qualified coaches at the same time is very significant as our team goes through this transition and builds for the future. Mike and Susan will complement each other and bring many different skills and strengths to our staff, while contributing to the strong culture we have built in our program."

Mike Schall comes to Chapel Hill after spending the past seven years at Triangle Volleyball Club as an associate director. Since 2011 at Triangle Volleyball, his leadership, coaching experience and passionate approach to teaching the game were instrumental in advancing the mission of the club and achieving national recognition as one of the top clubs in the country.

"I've long respected coach Sagula and the UNC volleyball program," Schall said. "When this opportunity came open, it not only allowed my family and I to stay in the area, but also be a part of the nationally prominent Carolina program. I am very thankful to coach Sagula and the athletic department for this opportunity. I love the culture he has established and I am very excited to begin working with the staff and team."

"I want to welcome Mike as my top assistant, his wife Sarah, and their four children to the Carolina family," Sagula said. "Mike brings the experience of coaching at a top-level program, and combined with his time building Junior programs right here in the North Carolina area at Triangle is a great resource. These skills will provide a great advantage in both recruiting and training our teams. One of the greatest things that became evident when discussing our program is Mike's commitment to the development and mentoring of his players. He is one of the most respected coaches in the country and his quality of character will continue to resonate and represent our program and UNC at the highest levels."

Schall began his coaching career as a member of Russ Rose's staff at Penn State serving as assistant coach for the Nittany Lions. While at Penn State, Schall was involved in every area of the program including recruiting, practice planning and implementation, scouting and match preparation, and individual player development. He coached numerous Big Ten all-conference players, conference players of the year, national players of the year, and USA National Team members, including Christa Harmotto and Nicole Fawcett. During Schall's tenure, Penn State advanced to the NCAA Final Four five times, winning the national title in 1999.

Beyond coaching responsibilities at Triangle Volleyball, Schall maintained a consistent approach to teaching in the club, creating and supporting an atmosphere conducive to success in the gym, leading and developing Triangle's 90+ member coaching staff, and providing recruiting assistance for Triangle student-athletes who are among the most highly recruited in North Carolina. Schall's reputation and experience led to his selection to participate in the prestigious The Art of Coaching Volleyball coaching cadre at the UNC Chapel Hill clinic in April 2017.
Schall graduated from Penn State in 1994 with a bachelor's degree in exercise and sports science. As a four-year member and two-time co-captain of the Penn State men's volleyball team, Schall helped Penn State achieve three EIVA titles and three national semifinal appearances.

Schall and his wife Sarah live in Apex with their four children: Annabelle, Sam, Andrew, and Mia.

Susan Clements joins the Tar Heel staff after serving as head coach at Wright State for the past six seasons beginning in 2012.

"I want to thank coach Sagula and the UNC athletic department for this opportunity to be a part of Carolina Volleyball," Clements said. "I am looking forward to being a member of the legacy and the tradition of excellence coach Sagula has established and building the program's strong foundation to reach the goal of final four and a national championship."

"I have known Susan for many years from her days as a competitive player to her beginnings in the coaching profession," Sagula said. "What has stayed consistent throughout is her dedication, work ethic and love for the game. Those qualities are what I admire and know she will bring to our players and our program."

Before Wright State, Clements was the head coach at Niagara for five seasons. Clements directed the Purple Eagles to a 25-9 record in 2011 and the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) regular-season title for the second consecutive year with a mark of 17-1. Niagara also won its third straight MAAC tournament crown in 2011 and made its third consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament, falling to Northern Iowa.
The Purple Eagles set a school record for regular-season wins (23) in 2011 while tying the record for overall victories (25) and conference wins (17) that were set the season before.

Niagara excelled in the classroom under Clement's tutelage. The Purple Eagles placed eight student-athletes on the MAAC All-Academic List in 2010 and seven in 2009. The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) rewarded Niagara as one of the 92 Division I programs to earn the prestigious team academic award for the third straight season (2008-10). The team's grade-point average of 3.64 was the highest GPA amongst the 18 athletic programs at Niagara for the second straight season.

Clements came to Niagara from Georgetown College in Kentucky where she was the head coach of the Lady Tiger program in 2005 and 2006. Accumulating a 74-25 record in two seasons, the Lady Tigers won the Mid-South Tournament and Region XI titles and earned a berth into the NAIA National Championship Tournament. In 2014, Clements was inducted into the Georgetown Athletics Hall of Fame.
Clements coached at Nike High Performance camps and still works several elite summer camps at the University of North Carolina. A native of Lynchburg, Virginia, Clements earned a Master of Arts in interdisciplinary studies from Niagara in 2011 and a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology and sport science from Georgetown College in 2002.

"I want to thank Bubba Cunningham and his commitment to our program which provided me the ability to run a national search and attract such high level coaches to Carolina Volleyball. Both Susan and Mike have a wealth of volleyball experience in the game that will inspire our players on a daily basis," Sagula said. "They have a great connection to Carolina having been around our program for years, so they can appreciate our growth over the years, along with alumni and many future Tar Heels. They are familiar with many of our players having seen them develop right here in Chapel Hill. Their relationship with our program, their understanding of our goals and the mission of our Athletic Department along with their passion and work ethic will continue to build a consistent nationally relevant volleyball program."

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