Qi Wang Hired as New Women’s Volleyball Coach

MELBOURNE, FLA. — Florida Tech Athletics Director Bill Jurgens has announced that Qi Wang has been hired to assume the position of head volleyball coach at
Florida Tech. Wang is the ninth volleyball coach hired in the program’s 21-year history, since its inception in 1986. “I look forward to working with Coach
Wang in the development of Florida Tech volleyball. There is no doubt that the Sunshine State Conference has the strongest NCAA Division II volleyball
programs in the country, and it is our desire to be able to compete at this high level. I am confident that Coach Wang is the right person to help us
accomplish this goal,” said Jurgens.
Wang leaves his current position at Northern Michigan University in Marquette after coaching the Wildcats for two seasons (2005-06). With Northern
Michigan, Coach Wang led the Wildcats to consecutive winning seasons. He is currently ranked among the top 10 current NCAA Division II coaches with a
career .804 winning percentage. Prior to the 2006 season, Wang held the number two spot in the NCAA II with a .836 winning percentage. He currently holds a
164-40 overall coaching record in six seasons.
“I am excited to take on a new program that is located within one of the top volleyball conferences in the nation, along with the opportunity to work at a
great academic institution–not to mention the favorable Florida weather,” stated Wang.
Before taking on the position at Northern Michigan, Wang spent eight seasons (1997-2004) at Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo. During his initial
four campaigns (1997-2000) with the Bulldogs, Wang was the assistant coach, before assuming the head coaching position for his final four years (2001-04),
with Truman, amassing an overall record of 133-17 (.887).
Wang assumes a Florida Tech program that finished with a disappointing 2-30 overall record in 2006, as he looks to revive the program’s success. “I have
realistic goals for the next year to try to evaluate the players’ skills and push toward a winning season,” stated Wang. “I will be looking for
100 percent effort both academically and athletically from the student-athletes…well-balanced student-athletes are the ultimate keys to
success.”
During his tenure at Truman, Wang was 60-4 (.938) in conference matches and led the Bulldogs to three MIAA regular-season crowns, two MIAA tournament
championships and three South Central Regional titles. Truman advanced to the NCAA II Elite Eight three times and played in the championship match twice
during his stay in Kirksville. From 2001-04, the Truman volleyball team was a fixture in the AVCA Top 25, reaching a high ranking of second in the
nation.
Wang led Truman to its most successful season in school history, as the Bulldogs went 37-1 in 2004. The team remained undefeated until post-season play
when they faced Sunshine State Conference rival Barry University in the national championship match, falling to the Buccaneers.
For his efforts, Wang was named the 2002 AVCA NCAA II National Coach of the Year. In addition, he was recognized as the Mid-America Athletic Association
Coach of the Year three times in 2001, 2003 and 2004. He was also awarded AVCA South Central Regional Coach of the Year accolades three times in 2001, 2003
and 2004.
Wang coached eight All-Americans, including two first-team members. Sarah Shearman, the 2003 AVCA National Freshman of the Year was one of his recruits and
stand-out student-athletes. In four years as the head coach at Truman, 12 of Wang’s players earned all-region honors, while also capturing 24
all-conference awards. Twice, he had a player named the MIAA Most Valuable Player, while also coaching two players to the MIAA Freshman of the Year
award.
He began his coaching career at Normal University in China in 1983, where he remained until 1985. He was recruited to instruct Sport Science along with
assuming the head coaching position at Dalian University of Technology in 1987, where he continued at the prestigious Chinese institution until 1994.
Personally, Wang earned his undergraduate degree in Sports Science with a specialization in volleyball from Beijing Sports University of China in 1983. He
continued on earning a Master of Education at Beijing in Teaching Theory & Methods in Volleyball in 1987. Wang was a player in China on the elite
professional and collegiate teams.
Wang eventually came the United States on a collegiate exchange program and earned his second post-graduate degree at Eastern New Mexico University in 1997
receiving a Master of Science degree in the coaching of sports.
He has published and presented more than 30 scholastic and scientific papers relating to volleyball, sports science and physical education in the leading
Chinese and international professional journals and conferences. One of the magazines in which Wang has had articles published is Volleyball and Science,
which is recognized as one of the most valuable training guides in China, from 1985-94.
“Future goals include building an elite program,” said Wang. I feel Florida Tech has a bright future with a clear path toward both academic and athletic
excellence.”
In the classroom, Wang’s student-athletes at Truman had a 100 percent graduation rate. A total of 25 of his student-athletes at Truman were named to
the MIAA commissioner’s academic honor roll. In 2001-02, the Truman team received the AVCA/Molten Team Academic award after maintaining a 3.45 team
GPA.
Wang officially begins at Florida Tech on Feb. 5. Along with wife Shelly (Xiao-Xin), Wang will reside in the Melbourne area. The Wangs have one son,
George, a recent graduate of Truman State.