Settle hired as new volleyball coach

Amy Settle (Photo by Michelle Hawthorne)

There is much enthusiasm on the women’s volleyball team as new Head Coach Amy Settle begins her coaching career at Huntington University.

Settle is a native from Ossian, Ind., an alumnus of Huntington University, and a former Forester athlete herself.

She has worked as an assistant coach at Moorehead State, a Division 1 university, and has coached the Cornerstone University volleyball team to three conference titles and three appearances at NAIA regional finals. She also has five years of experience coaching high school and club teams.

During Settle’s four years as a Forester, the team was continuously top in their conference. Settle was part of one of the most successful volleyball teams Huntington has seen, with a season record of 32-10.

Settle took a 10-year break from coaching to raise her children, and is excited to be back in the game at Huntington.

“It’s a homecoming in many ways, and it is fun for me to be back as a coach,” she said. “The Lord has led me back to being a coach. I already love it, and I am only two weeks in.”

Settle said she hopes to add to the existing talent that the team already has.

“The lady’s talent on the floor and their record doesn’t match up to me,” she said “Their hard work and my leadership can bring about success for them.”

She plans to find ways to best prepare the team be a competitor in the conference.

“The strength of the conference is definitely a challenge,” Settle said.

Settle is using this off-season to work on technique changes and new systems skills so that in the fall, the focus will be on competing.

“Amy has a lot of the important things we were looking for in a coach, and she is the right person for the job,” Athletic Director Lori Culler said. “She is caring and compassionate and enjoys the opportunity to develop relationships with players, but she also expects a lot out of her players.”

Culler said Settle will put the experience of her players first and foremost.

“She will put 100 percent of her efforts into being a good coach,” she said.

“Amy sees potential in us, and I am excited about her helping us meet that potential,” sophomore player Abbey Keister said. “We are all really excited and optimistic.”

Along with valuing Settle’s strong relationship with God and family, Keister values the fact that Settle genuinely cares for each of the players.

“I hope to see our team stay unified as we are, and develop a strong relationship with our coach,” Keister said. “We like to be goofy, and Amy has a similar sense of humor and it fits in with the team well.”