BENNINGTON, Vt. – The Southern Vermont College Athletics Department appointed Joshua Stokes as the new head volleyball coach during the summer. Stokes was most recently the assistant women’s volleyball coach at State University of New York at Potsdam. His duties at Southern Vermont include coaching both the women’s program that plays in the fall and the men’s that runs in the spring.
Stokes has extensive experience in the realm of volleyball with over 12 years of coaching experience from Princeton University’s club team, to Clarkson University (where the coaching staff was named the Conference Staff of the Year), and all the way to California where he grew up. When asked about his coaching philosophy Stokes stated it simply as, “success breeds success.”
In 2009, Stokes earned his Master of Science in Education with a focus in Organizational Leadership and Management from State University of New York at Potsdam. He played collegiate ball for two seasons (2003-2004) at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Stokes was a premiere setter recording 1200 assists, 200-plus kills and digs, and 75 blocks. On top of his individual success, the team won the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championship in 2003 and was the runner-up in the tourney in 2004.
The most wins recorded in a season were by the women’s team in 2006 when they were 14-14 (.500). Stokes is very optimistic when asked about his new position stating, “Growth starts at the roots and finds its way to the sky. That's what we [as programs] will try to achieve, then hopefully we can shoot for the stars as well.”
The women’s volleyball team kicks off the season at home (Mountaineer Athletic Center) Saturday, September 4th, as it hosts Bard and Manhattanville for 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. matches.
Founded in 1926, Southern Vermont College offers a career-enhancing, liberal arts education with 21 academic degree programs for approximately 500 students. Southern Vermont College recognizes the importance of educating students for the workplace of the twenty-first century and for lives as successful leaders in their communities. SVC is part of the New England Collegiate Conference, made up of 10 institutions participating in 14 NCAA Division III sports. The college is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Please visit www.svcathletics.com, follow SVC Athletics on twitter or “like” SVC Athletics on Facebook to stay in the loop with the Mountaineers.