Concordia University - 2008 Volleyball Roster

2008 Volleyball

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Dan Kirchoff

Dan Kirchoff - Head Coach

The search committee looking to find a new volleyball coach didn't have to leave the Concordia University system to find a very qualified and determined coach to take over the direction of the program in the summer of 2006.

Dan Kirchhoff (Concordia University-River Forest, 1998) will be entering his third year at the helm of the Cardinal volleyball program and has shown what he can do with ample time to recruit as he hauled in another impressive recruiting class for the coming season.

Having very little at his disposal with only eight players on the entire roster in his first season, Kirchhoff guided the Cards to a 7-31 season. His second season demonstrated what he could do with ample recruiting time. The Cardinals finished the season with a 19-24 overall record and a fifth place finish in the conference standings with a 5-9 mark. The 19-overall win total was the highest since the 1995 season, and ranks fourth all-time in Concordia history.

The 33-year-old Kirchhoff began his coaching career at his alma mater, serving as the assistant coach for the Cougar's women's volleyball team. After his four-year stint, Kirchhoff moved north and became the men's head volleyball coach at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, an NCAA Division III program in the Lake Michigan Conference (which is home to Concordia-Mequon).

After a year at MSOE, Kirchhoff moved back to Illinois to serve as an assistant coach for the women's volleyball program at Cardinal Stritch University, a member of the NAIA. At that time, Kirchhoff also began to serve as the head coach of the Rockford Volleyball 18 Select team, a position he has held for the last two years.

Kirchhoff moved to Ann Arbor after serving as the graduate assistant and acting Sports Information Director at Rockford College in Illinois.

"This is a tremendous opportunity to both coach and teach within the Lutheran university system," said Kirchhoff. "It is great to be back in the Concordia family and I am excited to be able to guide a program that plays in the NAIA, where I think you can attract not only better athletes, but also better student-athletes."

Kirchhoff realizes that the Cardinals play in one of the toughest conferences in the NAIA, with perennial powers throughout league play. The first step for success was getting his players to believe in themselves and raise their expectations.

"We have to change our mind set before we can become truly successful," Kirchhoff said. "Things could snowball from there if we put our mind to it."