The coaching staff shuffle will continue with Ball State University women's volleyball team — and this time with an assistant coach.
First-year head coach Steve Shondell said Wednesday that he will be looking for a new assistant coach to fill the void left by the departure of top assistant and recruiting coordinator Marci Peniata. Peniata accepted an assistant coaching position at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minn.
"We're just heartbroken at [Peniata's] decision to leave. She's a great person and a tremendous coach," Shondell said. "Everyone is going to miss her around here. She's making the decision for all the right reasons. Family must come first."
Wednesday was Peniata's final day on the Ball State coaching staff before returning to Minnesota, her home state, by the end of the week to begin responsibilities with St. Cloud State. Peniata wrapped up her last day as a Cardinal assisting with the summer volleyball camp.
"I'm excited to be going home, but sad to leave Ball State. After three seasons here being the stabilizer for the program I will miss the team," Peniata said. "I'll definitely miss the girls and the relationships we've developed over the last couple years. I'll also miss the fun that we had on the road with each other."
Peniata, who was expected to miss most of the 2010 season starting in September due to maternity leave, said she wanted to be closer to her family after three years in Indiana.
"Coaching positions don't come open in the state of Minnesota very often. I checked into the program and applied," Peniata said. "Everything fell into place with the opening and getting the job offer allowing me to go close to home."
The university is about an hour away from Peniata's hometown of Plymouth, Minn.
St. Cloud State, a Division II team in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, finished last season 7-25.
"It's a sad day for all of us at Ball State," assistant coach Kelli Miller said. "I've grown close to [Peniata] in the month I've been on the coaching staff. She's a great person and coach. I know that if I need anything that I can always contact her and she'll help me the best she can."
Peniata came to Ball State as an assistant coach under former Ball State coach Dave Boos after playing under Boos and University of Minnesota coach Mike Herbert from 2003-06. When Boos resigned from Ball State in March to accept an assistant coaching position at the University of Florida, Peniata was named interim head coach by Ball State Athletic Director Tom Collins.
Since then, Peniata was promoted to Shondell's top assistant and recruiting coordinator after she received praise from the athletic department for her efforts as interim head coach. Peniata had played a pivotal role in holding the 2010 recruiting class together as Collins conducted the coaching search that ended in mid-April.
Since March, Peniata had been heavily involved in the day-to-day operation of the Cardinals' volleyball program. Most recently she helped the newest assistant coach, Milller.
"I'm trying out the different levels of competition as a coach. Ball State being a division one team and St. Cloud State being a division two team will let me gain new experiences," Peniata said. "It's exciting to start a new adventure."
Peniata said she intends on making St. Cloud State her final stop before trying to become a head coach.
"I think after this next job I'll go out and apply for head coaching positions," Peniata said. "It's just a matter of seeing what level I should coach at right now."
Peniata's decision to leave Ball State means Shondell will look to add to his coaching staff before the team begins practice in early August.
"It's going to be difficult to replace [Peniata]. She was a godsend to me and Ball State. She was a remarkable coach for us," Shondell said.
Shondell indicated he had a couple coaches in mind to fill the position, but he said he expected to have a difficult decision.
"This assistant coaching position will take up a lot of my time," he said. "This time around I'll be looking for a veteran coach who can come in and help [Miller] and me since we're both in our first year in our positions."
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