Purchase College - SUNY Women's Volleyball

Louis Sepulveda is entering his second year as head coach at Purchase College in 2023, bringing a wealth of knowledge, passion, and expertise to the womens volleyball program. With a deep love for the game and a commitment to developing athletes both on and off the field, Sepulveda has established himself as a respected figure in the coaching community. During his first year at Purchase, he made a significant impact on the program, fostering a culture of teamwork and excellence. His coaching philosophy emphasizes the importance of discipline, hard work, and continuous improvement, inspiring athletes to reach their full potential. Beyond his technical expertise, Coach Louis is dedicated to the holistic development of his athletes. He strives to instill important values such as sportsmanship, resilience, and leadership, empowering athletes to become well-rounded individuals both on and off the court. Sepulveda takes pride in creating a positive and inclusive team environment that fosters camaraderie and supports the personal growth of each athlete. As he enters his second year with the Panthers, Coach Louis is excited to build upon the successes of the previous season and continue to elevate the program to new heights. With their unwavering dedication, strategic mindset, and ability to inspire athletes, Sepulveda is poised to make a lasting impact on the team, helping them achieve their goals and unlock their true potential. Louis is thrilled to be a part of Purchase and looks forward to contributing to the growth and success of the womens volleyball program while positively shaping the lives of the student-athletes under his guidance. Before he arrived at Purchase, Louis spent five seasons at Pratt Institute, where he amassed a record of 73-46 as head coach. Sepulveda rebuilt the program from the bottom up, recruiting several high-level recruits year over year. His hard work paid off in year three, when Pratt won 20 matches for the first time in school history. During his last three seasons, Pratt went 50-28 and reached the finals of the ACAA tournament. Overall, Pratt made the ACAA tournament four times in five seasons. Before Pratt, Sepulveda worked as an assistant coach at Nassau Community College, where he was in charge of the setters and implementing a fast-paced offense. During his tenure, he helped the Lions win three-straight regional titles and made the national tournament each season. Sepulveda also brings a wealth of experience at the high school level, coaching at Island Tree and Baldwin High Schools. During his tenure at Island Tree, Sepulveda turned around a 2-14 program prior to his arrival to a 15-8 record in his first year, and a 15-1 mark in his second year, culminating in a conference championship. At Baldwin, he and the Bruins enjoyed success building the program, making the playoffs each season while reaching the county finals on two occasions. After Baldwin, Sepulveda took over the highly successful Kings Park Volleyball program, coaching the Kings Park Lady Kingsman to four-straight Suffolk County championships and an 88-12 record. As a player, Sepulveda played collegiately for Queensborough Community College and Navy as a setter, and club volleyball for Big Apple New York.  Coach Sepulveda has had some great influences in his life, learning from the likes of Russ Rose, Bob Bertucci, and John Kessel. He continues to play both on the beach and indoors. Sepulveda earned his Associates Degree from Westchester Community College and his Bachelors in Communications and Media Arts from the State University of New York at Oneonta. Sepulveda is married and has a son.

Bennett enters his second season at the helm for the Panthers in 2024. In 2023, he led Purchase to a 7-20 overall record and had a player named to the All-Skyline Conference Second Team. Prior to the Panthers, Bennett worked for Pratt Institute as the Associate Women's Volleyball Head Coach and Activity Resource Center Facility Supervisor. As the associate head coach, Dean helped restructure the culture of Pratt Athletics, specifically for men's and women's volleyball, oversaw the supervision of the coaching staff, created successful game-plans and strategies, and bolstered recruiting across both programs. As the facility supervisor, Bennett maintained and inspected all areas of use to ensure safety and correct issues, and oversee student workers. Bennett had worked in both roles since January 2021. Prior to join Pratt, Dean spent three years at Saint Elizabeth University in New Jersey, serving as the Assistant Men's Volleyball Coach. While there, he aided in the planning, recruitment, scheduling and day-to-day maintenance of the team.  Before Saint Elizabeth, Bennett graduated from Dean College with a degree in Business and Sport Management.