Women's Volleyball
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- hhernesman@bsu.edu
- Phone:
- 765.285.1123
After three years (2007-09) as the top assistant coach for the Ball State women's volleyball program, Hugh Hernesman, along with his wife Stephanie Hernesman, were named co-head coaches at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana, on Dec. 22, 2010.
"First of all, I would like to thank Mr. Burke, Mr. Pierce and Dr. Webb for this opportunity," said Hernesman upon his hiring at Northwestern State. "Steph and I are thrilled to become a part of the Northwestern State family and feel this is a great fit for both sides. It is very clear that Mr. Burke is committed to putting a great product on the court and we plan to match that commitment. I would also like to thank Dave Boos and Tom Collins at Ball State for allowing me to further my career at a fine institution. I am confident that the Ball State volleyball program is headed in a great direction and will be a major force in the MAC for years to come."
In three seasons with the Cardinals, Hernesman helped the program post a 32-62 (17-31 Mid-American Conference) record. In 2009, the Ball State defense ranked first in the league by limiting its opponents to a .177 attack percentage while posting a 15-16 overall record, the program's best since the 2005 season. In addition, he helped tutor sophomore transfer Kelsey Brandl to All-MAC First Team accolades, as she led the team and ranked sixth in the conference with a 0.98 blocks-per-game average.
In 2008, Hernesman helped tutor freshman Jennifer Boyd to All-MAC Second Team accolades, while both Boyd and Brittany McGinnis earned recognition on the MAC All-Freshman Team. In both 2008 and 2009, the Cardinals advanced to the quarterfinals of the MAC Tournament, losing to eventual tournament champions Ohio each season.
"Hugh is a proven coach who has made an immediate impact in every program he has been a part of," said BSU Head Coach Dave Boos upon hiring Hernesman. "He has a style that complements mine and his head coaching experience will be a tremendous asset to Ball State Volleyball."
Prior to joining the BSU staff, Hernesman was the head coach at Hardin-Simmons from 2004-06. In his three seasons with the Cowgirls, Hernesman compiled a 47-43 overall record, including a 37-21 American Southwest Conference mark.
During the 2006 season, he guided the program to it's first-ever NCAA Division III Tournament appearance by winning the program's first ASC Tournament Championship. The 2006 Cowgirls compiled a 19-15 overall record, including a 14-4 league ledger, which earned Hernesman his second-straight ASC West Division Coach of the Year award.
In 2005, the Cowgirls posted a 19-11 (17-3 ASC) record, won the ASC West Division title for the first time in program history and advanced to the finals of the ASC Tournament.
Hernesman helped Virginia Aguilar become the first player in program history to earn ASC West Division Player of the Year honors, as she picked up the honor in 2005 and 2006. In addition, Aguilar earned American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Region Honorable Mention status in 2006 and ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-American First Team accolades in 2005.
Two of his players - - Taylor McFarland (2005) and Chelsea Buetow (2004) - - earned ASC West Division Newcomer of the Year awards, while he also coached his players to three ASC All-Conference awards, seven ASC West Division First Team honors, two ASC West Division Second Team accolades and five ASC West Division Honorable Mention selections.
From 1995-2004, Hernesman spent nine seasons as an assistant coach for NCAA Division III national powerhouse UW-Whitewater. During his time on the Warhawks bench, Hernesman helped guide the program to a 305-45 (.871) record and the 2002 NCAA Division III National Championship, as well as a pair of NCAA Division III Championship runner-up finishes (2000 and 2001) and a third-place showing in 1995.
Hernesman was the position coach for eight AVCA All-Americans (including the 2001 National Player of the Year Allison Erickson), 10 AVCA All-Region honorees and 14 All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selections with UWW.
Hernesman, who earned his master's degrees in health, physical education, recreation and coaching from UW-Whitewater in 2000, was also the head coach of the UWW men's volleyball club team from 1994-2004, including a stint as a player/coach from 1996-1997. He also played for the men's club team from 1991-1994 while working on his bachelor's degree in secondary education, which he received in 1995.
Hernesman is married to the former Stephanie Everett, who was a volunteer assistant coach for the Ball State women's volleyball team for the 2007 and 2008 seasons. The couple has one son, Austin, and one daughter, Emma. Both have been active in the USA Volleyball High Performance program for the North Texas and Badger Regions.
