Lisa Dankovich Position: Assistant Coach

After devoting 15 seasons to the Miami volleyball program as an assistant coach, Lisa Dankovich enters her final season with the program in which she was once a student-athlete herself. Dankovich, who has been a fixture on the Miami sidelines along side head coach Carolyn Condit, will hang up her whistle following the 2004 season to pursue other career opportunities.

Dankovich's dedication to Miami Volleyball is immeasurable. She has been a vital component in all aspects of the program. From recruiting, to on-court teaching, to game preparation and all the endless tasks in between, Dankovich has done it all and has more than made her mark on Miami Volleyball.

"No doubt I am among a small handful of head coaches in the country who can boast about the quality and longevity of my first assistant," says Condit. "Lisa's outstanding work and allegiance to our program is beyond compare. It is wonderful to work daily with someone who not only takes such pride in the job but, quite often, even reads my mind."

Quite possibly the greatest tribute to Dankovich's dedication to the program are head coach Carolyn Condit's MAC Coach of the Year plaques displayed on the walls of her office. Condit makes it known that her successes as a head coach are shared with the assistant who has been with her over much of her Miami stint.

Engraved alongside Condit's name, whose peers in the Mid-American Conference have voted as outstanding coach of the year on four occasions, is Dankovich's name. While the awards went to Condit, the one, but all-important, vote from the mentor of the program gives her the recognition she deserves.

Longevity and chemistry have been vital components to the Miami coaching staff, which has bred much success in the conference and region.

Dankovich, now in her 16th season with the program, has contributed to five MAC Championships and NCAA appearances and two NIVC jaunts during her tenure. She has compiled a 272-196 record, a .581 winning percentage, as an assistant coach at Miami and a 367-234 mark, a .611 success rate, over her combined 18 years at Miami as a player and coach.

Having been involved with the program since 1983, Dankovich knows Miami volleyball inside and out. A former player under Condit, she plays an instrumental role in training the setters, handles most of the behind-the-scene organization and is the recruiting coordinator for the RedHawks.

"Although Danko does a lot of behind-the-scenes work and helps Coach Condit with the team, she specializes in working with the setters," says former setter Melinda McCormick. "Because the setter's role is so demanding, Danko comes in early and stays late at practices, three to five times a week, so the setters can put in the extra time and repetitions that they need.

"Since it is easier to see the whole picture from the sidelines, Danko teams up as another setting brain on the court by using what she sees to suggest different plays to run or players to use," continues McCormick. "She is the one that the setter will look to on the sideline if she needs feedback or if something needs to be changed. And since she was a setter once herself, it's easy to trust in what she says, have the open communication between player and coach, and take the constructive criticism she has to offer in order to improve."

Dankovich was a four-year letterwinner at Miami from 1983-86. As the starting setter, she helped lead Miami to a record of 95-39 (.709) and was selected to the all-MAC team her last two years. Dankovich still holds Miami and MAC records for service aces in a season (99), and her .629 career service ace-per-game average ranks 12th nationally in Division I. Serving up 207 aces over her four campaigns with the Red and White, Dankovich also owns the Miami record for career service aces and ranks third in career assists (3,242).

"When Lisa was a player she was determined, disciplined and truly loved game, and I think that has carried over to her coaching," says former teammate Kathy Tepe Bessler. "Lisa is dedicated to the team, recruiting, and has committed her life to Miami Volleyball. She has traveled extensively to find top-notch players to bring into the program. She is a great friend and a great person, and it will be difficult to replace her. She truly loves Miami from her playing days to being a coach."

She had the pleasure of setting twin sisters Kathy and Wendy Tepe for four seasons. Together, they generated a powerful offensive attack that later led to the Tepe's induction into Miami's Hall of Fame. Dankovich also had the privilege of setting future Hall of Fame inductee Karen Lepley for two seasons, who later emerged as the program's first MAC Player of the Year.

"Lisa has been instrumental to the success of Miami Volleyball," says former teammate Wendy Tepe Tobergte. "She brings so many important elements to the job. Lisa cares about the individual person and provides the athletes with guidance and direction, and she is so job-conscious. She is such an organized, detail-oriented person, which is paramount to the success she brings to the program. She knows the game inside and out, which is what has helped make Miami successful over the years. Lisa is as much Miami volleyball as Carolyn is as its head coach."

A native of New Castle, Ind., she earned her bachelor's degree in management/organizational behavior from Miami in 1987 and a master's degree in sports management from Indiana University in 1989. She served two seasons as a graduate assistant with the IU volleyball program while earning her degree.

In the spring of 2002, Dankovich was back on the sidelines as a head coach in the Boarderline Junior Club Program. The Oxford-based club program boasts more than 250 athletes and 19 teams. Dankovich shared her volleyball insight and mentored the 16 Open team that traveled throughout the Midwest, competing in local and regional tournaments.

As a player and a coach, Dankovich has given a great deal to the game of volleyball, especially at Miami University. Her commitment to her alma mater is one that will not soon be forgotten by those she has touched over the past 15 seasons.

"For most of my career at Miami, Lisa has been along side of me working for the betterment of our program as either an athlete or a coach. For 19 years, her allegiance has been extraordinary, and I have enjoyed combining talents with her. More than anything, I will always appreciate her loyalty, friendship and desire to give so much of herself to the team cause. It has been both rewarding and fun, and I will miss her very much. She has been a blessing."