Thundering Herd Volleyball Names Assistant Coaches

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall head volleyball coach Ari Aganus has announced that Taylor Strickland and Sean Cahill have been named assistant coaches.

"I am thrilled to have Taylor and Sean as part of the Marshall Volleyball staff," said Aganus. "Taylor bleeds green and understands the culture we want to foster, while she also has the skills to train our women and recruit new talent. Sean brings high quality volleyball training skills to the program that can help us stay competitive in the conference. I am excited to get everyone in the gym to build our relationships with the women and work hard for our successes on and off the court."

It is Strickland's second stint in the position, as the alum previously served from 2013-16 before joining the Big Green Scholarship Foundation as assistant director of athletic development for the last two-plus years.

During Strickland's final season on the volleyball staff (2016), Marshall had three student-athletes who earned honorable mention all-region AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) status, the Conference USA Libero of the Year and six who earned all-conference status en route to a 22-8 overall record.

A 2010 Marshall University graduate and Kenova native, she played two seasons of volleyball and was a member of the 2007 team that won the regular season league title.

She also spent two years (2011-13) as a graduate assistant in the Big Green offices.

Strickland received her Master's of Science in Human Resource Management from Marshall in 2013. She also spent five seasons as an assistant volleyball coach at Spring Valley High School and worked with the River Cities Thunder Volleyball Club from 2009-17. She coached in numerous age-groups during that time, including the 2013 18-under team that finished 33rd in the National Division and 64th of 150 teams at the USA Junior National Championships in Dallas, becoming the first club team from the state of West Virginia to qualify for that tournament.

"To get an opportunity to coach at my alma mater is truly such an honor," Strickland said. "I have missed the game and the remarkable student-athletes that I am so excited to work with again. I can't thank coach Ari Aganus enough for providing me with this opportunity. Ari is someone that I connected with right away in the coaching world, due to the same philosophies and outlook that we share. I am so excited to begin this journey with her here, because I believe in and respect her to the fullest. I owe a big thanks to her, Associate AD Beatrice Crane Banford and Director of Athletics Mike Hamrick for allowing me to get back to my passion."

Cahill comes to Huntington from UC San Diego, where he was an assistant coach since 2013, helping lead the program to two NCAA West Regional appearances. Prior to his time there, he was a volunteer assistant at Loyola University in Chicago. That season, the Ramblers posted a 17-12 overall record, a 13-win improvement over their 2011 season, and advanced to the semifinals of the Horizon League tournament.

He also coached at Wave Volleyball Club from 2015-19, garnering two first-place finishes in the 18s division at the JVA World Challenge and the JVA West Coast Cup in 2016.

From 2010-12, he was the head coach of San Diego Volleyball Club, one of the premier women's clubs in Southern California. Cahill was also the head coach of Seaside Volleyball Club, a top men's program in the United States. His 15's squad placed 11th at the 2012 Junior Nationals.

Also from 2010-12, Cahill was the head men's and assistant women's coach at Del Norte High School in San Diego. He led the men's squad to the Division 3 semifinals in the program's second year of existence and helped the women to a second place league finish in the team's third year.

Before moving to the West Coast, Cahill was the head coach of Chicago Bounce Volleyball Club and a volunteer assistant coach at Glenbard East High School in Lombard, Ill., from 2008-10.

Cahill played for the Ball State University men's club volleyball team from 2006-08, also serving as the program's head coach and vice president. Ball State placed 11th at the 2008 NIRSA Division I-AA Championships and 21st in 2007.

A member of the Dean's Honor List, Cahill earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education from Ball State in 2008. He held minors in Adapted Physical Education and Multicultural Education. He earned his Master's in Coaching and Administration from Concordia of Irvine in 2016.

Cahill is a native of the Chicago area.

"I am thrilled and honored to be joining the Marshall family," said Cahill. "I can't thank Ari or Marshall Athletics enough for this amazing opportunity. I am eager to start working with the team and to get this program back to the top of Conference USA."

The Thundering Herd will begin its 15th season as members of Conference USA this fall.

Marshall University Athletics

Thundering Herd Volleyball Names Assistant Coaches

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