Head Coach Stew McDole
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Stew McDole, Head Coach Office Phone: 641-784-5315 e-mail: mcdole@graceland.edu |
Stew McDole
McDole has been at the helm of the Graceland women's volleyball program for the last 27 seasons amassing a 775-387 win/loss record and 21 consecutive seasons with 20 or more wins. During 19 of those years, he has led the squad to a Heart of America Athletic Conference regular, pre or post season title and has been named the HAAC Coach of the Year 12 times. A post season qualifier in each of his 27 seasons, his Yellowjacket programs have produced 21 All-America selections and 29 All-America scholar-athletes.
Through McDole's leadership Graceland has been one of the summer homes for USA Volleyball National Development Camps since 1972. Literally dozens of "name" coaches nation and world-wide have served as staff, touching the volleyball lives of thousands of high school and adult players over this 36 year span. Stew, as he is addressed by players and colleagues alike, is a 1965 Graceland graduate; he later completed both a masters and a doctorate in leisure studies at Indiana University-Bloomington. He spent two years as Director of Athletics for Graceland and chaired the Board of Governors of t he HAAC during that stint. Part of his present assignment includes teaching physical education and leisure services administration. McDole also served a seven year stint as the academic division chair.
In June of 2005 McDole was awarded the Dr. Harold T. Friermood "Frier" Award, USA Volleyball's highest honor. McDole is an elected officer of USA Volleyball where he served as a board member for 10 years and subsequently as corporate treasurer for a total of thirteen years and executive vice president for four. USA Volleyball recognized him with the George J. Fisher Leader in Volleyball Award in 1978.
Graceland is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). McDole has functioned as an NAIA national volleyball rater for 21 years serving twice as the national rating chair. He was the long time volleyball for NAIA Region V (10 years) and completed a 14 year stint as an officer of the NAIA Volleyball Coaches Association where he twice served as president. During that period and subsequently he has been a member of the VCA recognition committee annually sharing in All-America, Player and Coach of the Year selections. He has functioned on 17 tournament committees for the NAIA National Volleyball Championships serving as tournament chair eleven times. In 1986 he was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame.
McDole served 18 years on the AVCA Board of Directors as the NAIA Representative and was a member of the AVCA Executive Committee. In February 1990 McDole was the cover feature for the AVCA Journal "Coaching Volleyball". He received the AVCA Founders Award in 1997 and in 2003 McDole was one of 23 members of the inaugural Hall of Fame class inducted by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).
Stew and his wife Patty are parents to three children: Chad, Mica and Corey. The McDoles are also the owners and operators of "Country Plus," a gift and Hallmark store in Lamoni.
