Volleyball

Volleyball hires Alvey as new head coach

UH athletic director Mack Rhoades announced Monday that Ole Miss volleyball assistant coach Molly Alvey had been hired as the Cougars’ fourth head coach.

Alvey, who spent the last five seasons at Ole Miss, replaces Bill Walton, who retired Nov. 25 after going 458-319 in 24 seasons at UH.

“Molly will be a great leader and role model for our student-athletes, as she brings a winning demeanor to the court and classroom,” Rhoades said in a release. “Her fiery passion will undoubtedly prepare them for success in all areas of life. We are excited to have Molly join our Houston athletics family.”

Alvey had similar praise for her new boss.

“The number one reason that I chose Houston is Mack (Rhoades),” Alvey said in a release. “His vision for volleyball and his vision for the athletic department, as a whole, is very clear, and he is ready to move with it.

“He is an excellent communicator and is someone I feel extremely comfortable with as a supervisor. He is someone that has the same vision and values as I do which is important for running a successful program.”

Alvey will have to rebuild a UH team that struggled to a 9-23 finish in 2009.

Alvey helped the Rebels reach the NCAA Tournament in 2006 and 2007. Ole Miss’ appearance in the 2006 NCAA Tournament was the first in school history. The Rebels tied a school record for conference wins with 10 that season.

While serving as recruiting coordinator, she helped Ole Miss land the nation’s 23rd-ranked recruiting class in 2009.

Alvery, who recruited Texas heavily while at Ole Miss, is confident that she will be able to replicate that success at UH.

“I am extremely comfortable recruiting in Texas and recruiting is the basis for finding success in college athletics,” Alvey said in a release.

“You have to get the kids to the program that you need to win and to build upon the system that you want to utilize. Half of our roster is from Texas and that’s where I spend a lot of my time. Being able to build a program in Texas, I have the roots and the recruiting contacts that I need. I definitely think it’s a program and a university that I can bring good kids to. In addition, the talent that we currently have at Houston will give me the jump-start that I need to get the program where I would like.”

Before arriving at Ole Miss, Alvey served as head coach at Southern Indiana, an NCAA Division II program, in 2004. She led the Screaming Eagles to a 24-7 record and the Great Lakes Valley Conference regular-season title in her lone season as head coach.

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