CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. ? Austin Peay State University announced today it has selected Jenny Hazelwood to be its next head volleyball coach. Hazelwood officially will assume her duties, February 19.
Hazelwood comes to Austin Peay after four seasons at Centenary College, where she compiled a 48-138 (.259) mark at the nation's smallest Division I school. She was named the 2002 Independent Coach of the Year, producing a 13-win season after inheriting a team with two players on the roster. Centenary posted a 12-24 mark in 2006, but played the likes of Tennessee, Mississippi and Virginia.
Prior to her stint at Centenary, Hazelwood spent two seasons at Division III Mississippi College, where she recruited three consecutive American Southwest Conference East Division Newcomers of the Year (2000-2002). She will bring a 58-187 career mark to Austin Peay.
"I believe the biggest thing she brings to the table is her experience," said Austin Peay senior women's administrator Cheryl Holt, who led the search committee. "We believed that she would be a great fit for the volleyball program and would bring a lot of energy and motivation to the position. She's been in a situation (at Centenary) where she has had to be selective and make tough decisions based on the resources available to her, and excelled despite those limitations. "
"I believe Austin Peay is a really good school both academically and athletically, which is something I like," said Hazelwood. "It's in a good conference for volleyball. But the more I looked into it, and after talking to different people, I just kept hearing good things from coaching friends and people who were familiar with the area."
Hazelwood played collegiately at Mississippi State and was a four-year starter for the Bulldogs. As a setter, she set MSU records for assists in a single game, season (1,541 in 1996) and career (5,505). She was named to the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll each of her four seasons and won the school's Newsom Award, presented to the athlete in each sport with the highest grade-point average.
"I was impressed all the way around with everything Austin Peay had to offer," said Hazelwood. "The people were wonderful and I never felt so welcome. I went to the basketball game the night before the interview and all the next day through the interview process people were very friendly and welcoming as well as honest and open. That's an atmosphere that's important to me. I enjoyed every part about being there, it's somewhere I feel my family would be comfortable and would be a great place to build a program."
Hazelwood inherits an Austin Peay program from Corey Carlin who resigned in December. The Lady Govs posted a 4-24 overall mark in 2005, including a 2-16 Ohio Valley Conference record. The Lady Govs will return six players from the 2005 squad and have one signee, Kelsey Benorden, already committed for the 2006 campaign. Assistant coach Lindi Bankowski has maintained the program over the intervening months. Hazelwood will need to hit the ground running with an April 11 signing period looming.
"I've already been in touch with Lindi... she's been working very hard keeping things going," Hazelwood said. "She and I are attempting to get on the some page, get caught up to speed on what she's doing. I plan on getting out and recruiting right away and bringing people to campus.
"Lindi has done a lot of work so I think I'll be able to step right in and get caught up with the kids that are extremely interested. There are a lot of good players still out there and I believe we'll be able to fill our roster quickly with players who can come in and make an impact."
