Hillsdale College Women's Volleyball

Gravel was handed the keys to the Hillsdale College volleyball program in the spring of 1996, he wasnt looking at a lemon, but a vehicle that definitely needed more than just fine-tuning. Now, as the 2016 season approaches, Gravel remains at the wheel of a finely tuned machine that has roared its way past the competition and into the nations elite. Going into his 21st season as head coach, Gravel has pushed the Chargers to the top of one of the most competitive volleyball conferences in all of Division II. While leading the program to more than 300 wins since his arrival, Gravel and his players have racked up numerous honors, both athletic and academic in nature, culminating in a 2011 season that saw the program honored like no other time in its history. Anyone who is coaching understands that success gets traced back to the players you have, Gravel said. Ive been extremely fortunate to have great players who are also great people throughout my time here at Hillsdale. Under Gravels leadership, Hillsdale has won an unprecedented three straight GLIAC Tournament championships, and in 2011, led the program to the NCAA Division II regional title, a first for any Hillsdale College athletic program.  Hes was also named the Midwest Region Coach of the Year in back-to-back campaigns in 2010 and 2011. In 2012, he led a squad with little on-court experience to its second straight appearance in the NCAA Sweet 16. As the new season approaches, his expectations are higher than ever, which is exactly how he likes it. He has four career GLIAC Coach of the Year honors, and since 2006, has coached a staggering seven different players who have received a total of 11 AVCA All-American honors. Three of his players were named GLIAC Player of the Year just since 2006 and hes taken the Chargers into the NCAA Regional Tournament in nine of the past 12 seasons. In three of those seasons (2006, 2010, 2011), Hillsdale College acted as the host school and number one seed for the regional tournament. As much as his team and players have achieved on the court, Gravels program has been well-represented with off-the-court accolades. Since 2004, more than half of his players have made the GLIAC All-Academic Team, and his 2004, 2005 and 2006 teams earned academic recognition from the AVCA. For four years in a row, one of his players received the prestigious GLIAC Commissioners Award, which recognizes not only high athletic achievement, but excellence in the classroom and community. His program has the most number of commissioners award winners of any at Hillsdale. In the Spring of 2016, setter Marissa Owen was named recipient of the GLIAC Post-Graduate Scholarship, becoming the only female student-athlete in the GLIAC to receive the award. It was another first for the program under Gravel's guidance. I feel great about the position our program is in today, Gravel said. But I want to win a national championship. Thats the long-range goal I have in mind every day when Im coaching our players. I want their goals to match mine because the kind of effort and dedication I demand from them, combined with what they give, can allow us to achieve our goals. In the 2008-09 academic year, Gravel had the title of Assistant Athletic Director added to his day-to-day job duties by athletic director Don Brubacher. Prior to taking over the Charger program, Gravel served as an assistant coach at GLIAC programs Grand Valley State and Wayne State. A 1992 graduate of GVSU, Gravel has also coached at the club and high school level throughout the state of Michigan. Always by his side, in coaching and in life, is his wife of 17 years, Stephanie. They have an 14-year-old daughter Brooklynn and they reside in Osseo.

Gravel doesnt have to look far for great support from his coaching staff. His wife of 19 years, associate head coach Stephanie Gravel is also in her 21st season on the Charger volleyball coaching staff. Stephanie Gravel played collegiately at Schoolcraft College in Livonia, later transferring to Grand Valley where she was a two-year captain for the Lakers. Stephanies teams at Schoolcraft qualified for the national tournament twice during her career there. Stephanie was not excluded from the teams award-laden 2010 season. She earned the 2010 AVCA National Division II Assistant Coach of the Year honor, representing the highest achievement for any assistant volleyball coach at the Division II level. It was an award that was richly deserved for someone who contributes so many things to so many parts of the program. Stephanie does extensive traveling, recruiting and fundraising for the volleyball program. She works closely with players on technique, training and teamwork concepts. She is also in charge of countless behind-the-scenes tasks, including player counseling, travel accommodations, camp promotions and recruiting year-round. Stephanie also has experience as head coach at Grandville and Reading High Schools. Later in her playing career, Stephanie played for the MPVA (Michigan Professional Volleyball Association), where she achieved a No. 13 personal ranking as a player on tour. In high school, she was an All-Region and All-Conference player at Brighton High School. Volleyball has played a big part in Stephanies life, but also the lives of her family members. Stephanies brother David Jandasek, was an All-American setter for the mens volleyball team at Ohio State University and played professionally overseas. Her father Joe still competes in open events around the country, and has won many individual and team awards past his 60th birthday. Both of her parents coached the sport of volleyball. Coach and Steph, as they are known to their players, are the proud parents of 14-year-old Brooklynn.