Daune Koester calls her new position as assistant coach of the MSU women’s volleyball team an “awesome opportunity.”
The 26-year-old Detroit native said though she has had many years of volleyball experience, this will be a new one.
“I’ve never been this excited about working - it’s a great job and a great conference,” she said.
Koester, hired this month, replaced former assistant coach Laura Abbinante and joins head coach Chuck Erbe and first assistant Todd Dagenais. Her main responsibilities will include national recruitment and helping to run the summer volleyball camps that MSU offers for elementary and high school students.
“Her personality blends extremely well with the coaching staff, she got a great response from our players, and she’s had a significant playing background, which is important particularly when you bring a coach into the Big Ten,” Erbe said
Koester arrived at MSU after a two-year stint as assistant volleyball coach at Georgetown University. While there, the university boasted a 43-18 record and won the Big East Tournament.
“It’s great to be in the Big Ten,” Koester said. “I grew up with that Big Ten atmosphere, and it’s fun to get back into it.”
She also played professionally for the Franches-Montagnes Volleyball Program in Switzerland in 1998 and became head coach of a junior team in the same program before arriving at Georgetown.
Koester was the team captain of the University of Maryland volleyball team in 1995 and 1996. During her time there, the team won the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship in 1996 and 1997.
After winning these championships, Koester noted her desire to make the Big Ten Championship part of her goal.
“I’ve won three conference championships and I’d love to get another conference in there - that’s our goal,” she said.
Team member Erin Hartley said Koester will fill a key role with the team.
“I think that she’s going to be an important part of the coaching staff, she brings a lot of great things to this team,” the junior outside hitter said. “She’s a hard worker and I think that’s what we need in a coach for this program. She’s a great person
