Rachelle Dosch Named Head Volleyball Coach

Rachelle Dosch has been named the head volleyball coach at Gustavus Adolphus College.  Dosch, a 2007 graduate of the University of St. Thomas, replaces Kari Eckheart who resigned to accept the position of Assistant Director of Athletics for Student Athlete Services at the College.

Dosch, an Anoka, Minnesota native, is assuming her first head coaching position after serving as an assistant coach at Winona State University and Luther College over the past three years.  From August 2007 to February 2009, she served as the head assistant volleyball coach at Luther, where she helped in building a program that had compiled a 3-29 mark in the 2006 season before improving to 15-15 in 2007 and 19-15 in 2008.  Dosch then accepted the top assistant position at Winona State in the winter of 2009.  At Winona, she assisted in team and player development and helped in all phases of recruiting including player evaluation, correspondence, and organizing campus visits.  In addition to her coaching duties at Winona, Dosch served as an academic adviser with student athlete services.

In addition to her collegiate coaching, Dosch is an active clinician, summer camp coach, and club coach.  She has been coaching at summer camps for the past seven years including Thanh Pham Camps, Midwest Volleyball Instructors (MVI), and Luther and Winona summer camps.  She has also been involved in coaching numerous club teams throughout the Twin Cities area.

The charismatic and energetic Dosch is looking forward to becoming a part of the Gustavus family and lead the volleyball program. She stated, “I am absolutely thrilled to be joining the Gustavus community. During my on-campus visit I was extremely impressed with the college, but I was moved by the kindness and sincerity of not only the athletics staff and administration, but everyone I met on campus!”  Dosch added, “I couldn’t be in a better place to start my head coaching career…surrounded by really good people in an athletic program that radiates with success.”

Before beginning her coaching career, Dosch was a standout outside hitter for the University of St. Thomas volleyball team.  A four-year starter and three-time All-MIAC honoree, Dosch led the Tommies to a 103-35 record in her four-year career, including a 30-7 mark in 2005 and a 29-7 record in 2006. An AVCA Third Team All-America honoree in 2006 and an AVCA honorable mention All-America recipient in 2005, Dosch registered 1,868 digs and 1,713 kills on her career. She is the only player in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) history to rank in the top five all-time in both kills and digs.

Gustavus Athetics Director Al Molde is excited about the passion and enthusiasm that Dosch brings to the athletic department as a whole and the volleyball program in particular.  He stated, “Rachelle impressed everyone during her interview on campus. She has so much enthusiasm about her.  It’s contagious.” Molde added, “Rachelle’s background as a player in the MIAC with the University of St. Thomas will also serve her well as she seeks to bring Golden Gustie volleyball to a new level.  I am really looking forward to working with her in building the volleyball program at Gustavus.”

In addition to her coaching duties, Dosch will serve as the coordinator of the Gustavus Health Promotion program (GHP).  The Gustavus Health Promtion program offers employees at Gustavus a variety of educational opportunities, assessment tools, and physical activity experiences so that they can achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Dosch becomes the fifth head coach in the 40-year history of the Gustavus volleyball program. The Gusties have compiled an all-time record of 761-535-11 (.586) winning four conference titles and making five NCAA Tournament appearances.