Jan. 11, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- Derek "Dex" Schroeder was officially named the head volleyball coach at Samford University, Director of Athletics Bob Roller announced Friday.

"I am so excited to be joining the Bulldog Athletic Department," Schroeder said. "I think Samford is an amazing institution with an incredible balance of athletics and academics. This is appealing to our staff as we can recruit exceptional young athletes who are also intelligent and motivated young people.

"The move into the Southern Conference in 2008 is very exciting. We are going to go through a spring where we will work hard and learn the systems and philosophies that will make us successful. Then in the fall we hope to build on that foundation and find some success in our first season in the new conference."

"Dex came highly recommended from many of the top college coaches in the country," said Roller. "He is known as an outstanding recruiter and top-notch trainer of intercollegiate women's volleyball. His years of experience at Furman will greatly assist us as we head into the Southern Conference this fall. Michelle Durban's work over the past four years made this an attractive job for candidates across the nation, and we're excited that Dex will lead our program."

Schroeder comes to Samford after serving a year as an assistant coach at St. Louis University. Prior to his stint at St. Louis, he spent four seasons as an assistant with the women's team at Furman University from 2003-06. There, Schroeder worked with the middle blockers and outside hitters and served as the Paladins' recruiting coordinator. Three of Schroeder's recruits earned first team All-Conference honors and one was named Southern Conference Player of the Year in 2006. He also founded Furman's volleyball booster club, Friends of Furman Volleyball.

Also while at Furman, Schroeder founded the Potential School of Volleyball (PSOV) in Greenville, S.C., a club volleyball program for kids ages 14-17.

The Wheatley, Ontario native began his volleyball career at the University of Windsor in 1993. He was recruited as a setter but made the transition to middle blocker, where he had a successful four-year career. He then played for the University of British Colombia from 1998-99, leading his team to a No. 6 national ranking. The middle blocker earned top 10 national rankings in blocks per game, digs per game and hitting percentage.

When Schroeder moved into the collegiate coaching ranks, he took on the task of bringing back the St. Clair College men's volleyball program from a 25-year hiatus. He led a squad with 11 freshman walk-ons to a 3-12 record in his first season. The next season, the team finished 7-8. In 2001, his squad featured the conference leader in points per game and a first-team All-Conference selection.

Schroeder then moved on to the University of Mississippi in 2002 and helped first-year head coach Joe Getzin rebuild the Rebel women's volleyball program as a volunteer coach. The tandem put excitement back in to the program as the squad improved its record and attendance spiked.

Schroeder graduated from the University of Windsor in 1998 with a bachelor's degree in human kinetics with an emphasis in sport management. He and his wife Pam are excited about moving to Birmingham.

"My wife and I are thrilled to be moving to Birmingham and becoming a part of a very close knit, hard working athletics staff," Schroeder said. "I look forward to building a program the community and Samford can be proud of."