The Dominican University Department of Athletics announced on Wednesday that Dan Ames has been tabbed to be the Stars’ head men’s volleyball coach effective immediately.
 
Ames, no stranger to Dominican University, has served as an assistant coach with the Stars’ women’s volleyball program for three seasons, including the 2009 season when the Stars made their first appearance in the NCAA Division III Volleyball Championships and won their first Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) Tournament Championship.
 
The owner of two volleyball clubs, Naperville Volleyball Club and Pipeline Volleyball Club, Ames has amassed an impressive resume at the club level, posting second and third place finishes at the AAU National Championship in 1999 and 2000 with the Sports Performance Volleyball Club as well as a second place finish at the Asics National Championships in 2004 with the 16-Mizuno and 18-Runbird boys teams.   In fact, while with Sports Performance Volleyball Club, the club became the first ever to two top five seeds in the same Boys’ Junior Olympics 18-Open Boys’ Tournament.
 
“Dan’s resume speaks for itself,” commented Erick Baumann, director of athletics at Dominican University.  “With his experience at the club level with boys and his familiarity with Dominican University, he gives instant credibility to our program.  We are excited and look forward to getting things going.”
 
At Dominican, Ames has helped recruit and coach ten All-Northern Athletics Conference student-athletes, including two NAC Freshmen of the Year as the Stars have accumulated a 73-19 overall record, including a conference regular season championship in 2010 and 2011 and a conference tournament championship in 2009.  Academically, Ames and Ryan Baumgartner, the Stars’ head women’s volleyball coach, have stressed academics, earning AVCA Team Academic Awards in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
 
“I’m excited about the opportunity and responsibility Coach Baumann and the entire Dominican University community has given me,” said Ames.  “I’d like to thank President Carroll and Erick Baumann for allowing me the chance to build the Dominican University men’s volleyball program.  I am proud to be expanding my role on campus while continuing to teach the sport that I love.”
 
Ames will begin recruiting to the Stars’ roster immediately and work on putting together a competitive schedule for the Spring of 2014 and can be contacted at dames@dom.edu or (708) 524-5952.