UC Merced women’s volleyball coach Allen McCreary resigns

Allen McCreary came to UC Merced for the challenge.

Few coaches get the opportunity to start a program and build it as they see fit.

After five years as the Bobcats’ women’s volleyball coach, McCreary will leave the program for similar reasons. McCreary stepped down Thursday to take a Division I job.

McCreary wouldn’t say where he was going because the new job hasn’t been finalized.

“The last five years have been great for me at UC Merced,” said McCreary, who went 51-72. “I was able to start a program from the ground up, and not many coaches can say they did that. I was blessed with great student-athletes, and I will miss seeing them win a championship.

“The plan was to never leave, but the opportunity was knocking to go back to NCAA D-I volleyball. I want to thank everyone at UC Merced for the support, and for the volleyball team to make me proud and hang a banner soon.”

David Dunham, UC Merced’s director of recreation & athletics, said a search for McCreary’s replacement is underway and that the school hopes to fill the position by August, when practice resumes.

“I think for us, Allen has done a great job building a foundation,” Dunham said. “He’s done a great job bringing in great students athletically and academically. We’re going to look for someone to continue what Allen has done for us and to keep building on it.”

UC Merced has 10 returners, including reigning California Pacific Conference Player of the Year Rachael Schaefer. The program is coming off its most successful campaign, finishing 14-10 overall and 6-4 in the Cal Pac.

The team has qualified for the Cal Pac tournament the last two years, reaching the title game in 2014.

“The program is set to compete for a championship, as we have many returning players as well as some top recruits coming in,” McCreary said.

This story was originally published June 5, 2016 at 11:18 AM with the headline "UC Merced women’s volleyball coach Allen McCreary resigns."