Eastern Mennonite University has announced the hiring of Derek King as interim men’s volleyball coach. King, a 2003 alumnus of EMU and the volleyball program, has recently served as a volunteer assistant at EMU and a boy’s volleyball assistant at Lancaster Mennonite High School.

Vice President for Student Life Dr. Ken L. Nafziger, who oversees the Athletics Department and chaired the hiring process, liked King’s experience and connections.

“The search committee felt fortunate to find someone of Derek's caliber for an interim part-time position,” said Dr. Nafziger.  “Derek stood out to us from the other capable applicants because of a combination of factors.  As a current EMU seminary student, he can provide a positive and consistent on-campus presence that other part-time coaches would find difficult to match; his connections as a former coach and player in the Lancaster, PA, area give him an inside recruiting advantage in a hot-bed for high school boys’ volleyball; and his success as a student-athlete at EMU makes him a positive role model for the current players.”

King said the opportunity to coach the team in the year that the NCAA adds a D-III National Championship was enticing.

“I am thrilled for this opportunity to lead EMU Men's Volleyball through this exciting transition into a new conference,” he said.  “The new conference and NCAA Division III Championship should provide EMU with an even better chance to compete with the best teams in the country.”

With the changing national landscape, the program is joining the newly formed Continental Volleyball Conference, which features teams from California to Maryland.  The Royals will play in the five-team East Division along with Juniata, Philadelphia Biblical, Stevenson and Thiel.

King was a four-year player at EMU (2000-03), graduating fifth on the Career Kills list at 682.  He averaged 3.17 kills per game or more each season and finished with marks of 3.48 kills per game with a .315 hitting percentage.

With his experience at the school, King said he appreciates the D-III philosophy.

“I resonate with the goals of the Athletic Department,” he said, “and hope that I can provide opportunities for the student-athletes to become better players and better people throughout this season and their collegiate careers.”

Dr. Nafziger said that the combination of King and Dominick Porter, himself a four-year player and 2007 EMU graduate, will give a well-balanced approach for the current athletes.

“With Dominick, who played professional volleyball in Germany, serving as Derek's assistant coach, we believe we have a coaching combination that can both demonstrate and teach leadership and outstanding play to our current team of young talented players,” Dr. Nafziger explained.  “We expect student-athletes to be successful in the classroom as well as on the volleyball court.”

King takes over a team which graduated only one senior and has a number of returning starters.

“My transition into this new position will certainly be eased by strong leaders currently on the team who have a wealth of experience and an ethic of hard work,” he said.  “I can already tell that they really want to win.”