CHICAGO – Proven program builder Toby Rens has been hired as Chicago State University's new volleyball head coach, CSU athletic director Dan Schumacher announced on Tuesday (Jan. 8). Rens' career 298-190 career record gives him the most NCAA career wins among Illinois' 13 current Division I women's volleyball head coaches.
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The Toby Rens File |
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2008-12 |
Pittsburgh |
Head Coach |
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2004-07 |
Long Island |
Head Coach |
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2001-03 |
Maryland Eastern Shore |
Head Coach |
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2000 |
Texas Tech |
Asst. Coach |
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1998-99 |
Northern Michigan |
Head Coach |
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1994-97 |
George Washington |
Asst. Coach |
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1993 |
Tennessee Tech |
Asst. Coach |
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1992 |
Morningside College |
Asst. Coach |
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Coaching Awards |
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• 2005 NEC Coach of the Year |
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• 2002 MEAC Coach of the Year |
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Player Awards |
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• 5 AVCA All-Americans |
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• 11 AVCA All-Region selections |
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• 7 Conference Players of the Year |
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• 3 Conference Rookies of the Year |
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“Toby's track record of success makes him the perfect fit for the program,” Schumacher said. “He's turned around schools with similar profiles to Chicago State, and I have no doubt he will reach the same success at CSU.”
Rens brings 14 years of NCAA head coaching experience to Chicago's Southside. He will take over the Cougars as they head into their first season of play in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in 2013.
“First and foremost I'd like to thank President Dr. Wayne Watson and Mr. Schumacher for this outstanding opportunity,” Rens said. “The vision that they have for Chicago State University, the athletic department and the volleyball program is outstanding. After meeting with both of them and the senior staff the decision to become a Cougar was easy. Not only is this opportunity based in an amazing city, it is also in the heart and soul of the longtime volleyball hotbed of Chicago and the western suburbs. The technical training that the Chicago area volleyball players get at the high school and club level is superior.”
Most recently Rens spent five seasons at the University of Pittsburgh, where he guided the Panthers to a program-record five consecutive Big East Tournament berths. He produced three American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Americans and five All-Region selections. His student-athletes earned 11 All-Big East selections. In 2009 Megan Dooley was named Big East Player of the Year and Michelle Rossi took home Big East Libero of the Year honors. The duo helped Pitt record an RPI as high as 34 and win a program-record 12 Big East matches in 2009. Academically, two of his five years at Pitt his squad posted the highest team GPA in the department.
Prior to Pittsburgh, Rens spent 2004-07 at Long Island University in Brooklyn, N.Y., a school classified as a PBI (Predominantly Black Institution). His four-year tenure as LIU head coach saw the Blackbirds earn Northeast Conference (NEC) titles and NCAA Tournament berths each season. His squads averaged 26.5 victories per season. The Blackbirds' 32-7 record in 2004 still stands as the programs winningest season. He was named NEC Coach of the Year in 2005.
Before LIU, Rens served as head coach from 2001-03 at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Located outside of Washington, D.C., UMES is classified as a HBCU (Historically Black College and University). Rens orchestrated a dramatic turnaround at UMES. Prior to his arrival the Hawks had not won a match for two seasons. By 2002 he guided the Hawks to a 20-15 record and a place in the conference championship match. It was the best single season turnaround in the NCAA, and he took home Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Coach of the Year honors for his effort. In 2003 the Hawks went 26-12. The success Rens instigated at UMES has continued, as the Hawks have won 19 or more matches all but one season since he left.
Rens is no stranger to the local recruiting scene, as his 2012 Pittsburgh roster featured seven Chicagoland natives.
“I've made so many recruiting trips to Chicago over the years that Chi-town started to feel like home,” Rens said. “It was always a challenge to pull the top student-athletes away from mom and dad. I'm incredibly thankful for the opportunity to coach the nation's best talent while affording them the opportunity to compete at the highest level in their own backyard. I'm certain that we can win with Midwest talent that never needs to leave home.”
In addition to leading the state of Illinois in coaching victories, Rens ranks second among WAC coaches with only New Mexico State's Mike Jordan (330) ahead of Rens.
“This is the first time in Chicago State volleyball history a head coach takes over the program with previous NCAA head coaching experience,” Schumacher said. “Toby's hire reflects the university's renewed commitment to all 14 sports at CSU.”
Rens' head coaching career began at NCAA Division II Northern Michigan University, where he compiled a two-year record of 58-17 and guided the Wildcats to a pair of NCAA Tournament berths and two Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) regular-season championships. Five Wildcats earned AVCA All-Region honors with a pair being named All-Americans.
In addition to his head coaching positions, Rens served as an assistant at Texas Tech (2000), George Washington (1994-97), Tennessee Tech (1993) and his alma mater, Morningside College (1992).
“We can compete at the highest level at Chicago State due to so many great volleyball programs and coaches in the state of Illinois,” Rens said. “Coaches like Keylor Chan (Northwestern), Kevin Hambly (Illinois), Katie Schumacher-Cawley (UIC) and Ray Gooden (Northern Illinois) are just a few who have built great programs with local talent. I'm excited about the doing the same at Chicago State.”
He has been highly active in national volleyball circles, serving as a member of the NCAA Division I Head Coaches Committee and as a voter in the
USA Today Top 25 Coaches Poll.
A native of Orange City, Iowa, Rens graduated from Morningside in 1993 with a bachelor's in physical education.
Rens is the sixth head coach in the CSU volleyball's time as an NCAA Division I member. Rens' official start date is Feb. 1.
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Season |
School |
Record |
Conference |
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2012 |
Pittsburgh |
17-14 |
Big East |
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2011 |
Pittsburgh |
18-15 |
Big East |
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2010 |
Pittsburgh |
13-18 |
Big East |
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2009 |
Pittsburgh |
20-11 |
Big East |
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2008 |
Pittsburgh |
17-14 |
Big East |
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5 years |
85-72 (.541) |
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2007 |
Long Island |
23-14 |
Northeast Conference |
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2006 |
Long Island |
25-11 |
Northeast Conference |
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2005 |
Long Island |
26-14 |
Northeast Conference |
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2004 |
Long Island |
32-7 |
Northeast Conference |
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4 years |
106-46 (.697) |
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2003 |
Maryland Eastern Shore |
26-12 |
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference |
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2002 |
Maryland Eastern Shore |
20-15 |
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference |
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2001 |
Maryland Eastern Shore |
3-28 |
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference |
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3 years |
49-55 (.471) |
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1999 |
Northern Michigan |
28-11 |
Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference |
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1998 |
Northern Michigan |
30-6 |
Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference |
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2 years |
58-17 (.773) |
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Totals (14 years) |
298-190 (.611) |
