The 2015-16 school year marked Stephen England's fourth season as the head men's volleyball coach and the assistant women's volleyball coach at Elmira College.
The 2016 season was once again a successful one for the Purple and Gold. While EC missed a berth in the UVC Tournament, the Soaring Eagles finished with 20-plus wins for the third consecutive season at 21-11 and ended the year ranked No. 12. The season was a notable one for senior outside hitter Erik Griffin, who collected multiple postseason accolades. Griffin was crowned an AVCA First-Team All-American, beconing the first-ever two-time All-American in EC history. In addition to Second-Team All-UVC and All-ECAC First Team awards, Griffin's outstanding performance was recognized as the EC Male Athlete of the year. England's squad also shattered several records in 2016; Griffin established a new mark for kills per set (4.26), Dylan Kuhn '16 set the single-season attack percentage record (.384), and Carlos Faccio '16 broke his previous record for aces per set (0.68).
The 2015 season was one for the record books for England’s Soaring Eagles. For the first time ever, EC posted its second consecutive 20-win season and finished the season ranked in the final AVCA Rankings at No. 11. Numerous single-season records were set, including most kills and kills per set by Erik Griffin ’16, as well as most assists per set, aces and aces per set by Carlos Faccio ’16. Both the team and individual game records for kills were also broken in 2015; EC tallied 74 kills vs. Baruch on January 23rd, led by Griffin with a record 34 kills.
England saw the 2014 version of the Soaring Eagles reach heights not previously seen in program history. He led Elmira to a 24-10 overall record and an 8-3 mark in the UVC, both of which are program bests. His team peaked at No. 7 in the nation in the AVCA National Rankings, another program best for Elmira, and also saw EC finish the season with a No. 10 national ranking, a program high. He coached two UVC All-Conference selections, including Michael Vellutato ’14, who was named the UVC Player of the Year and was also tabbed as an AVCA First Team All-American, a first in Elmira College history. For his efforts, England was voted the 2014 UVC Coach of the Year.
England took over an Elmira team that was ranked 15th in the country in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) pre-season poll and guided them to a 19-16 overall finish, reaching as high as 11th in the national AVCA polls. He also assisted a women’s team that won the Empire 8 Conference regular season title and came in second place in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championships.
Before coming to EC, England, a 2006 graduate of Nazareth College, spent two seasons as a graduate assistant intern with the women’s volleyball team at the University of Washington. His duties included team management, video editing, marketing, assisting in recruiting, statistical analysis and organizing portions of team travel.
Prior to his stint with the Huskies, England spent four years as an assistant coach of the men’s and women’s volleyball programs at Nazareth. His responsibilities included individual and team skill development, statistical analysis, video break down, compiling scouting reports, organizing team travel, program budgets, game day operations, alumni events, summer camps and student-athlete recruitment.
During his time with the Golden Flyers the teams won an Empire 8 conference title and went to two NCAA tournaments, including a Sweet 16 appearance with the women’s program. The men’s program went from a 10-13 record in 2005 to winning three regional championships.
Along with his collegiate coaching experience, England has served as both the head coach of the Boy’s or Girl’s Junior Olympics squads over the past seven years. He also served as the assistant coach of the Western Men’s Volleyball team in the Empire State games in 2007 and 2008, where the team took home the gold medal in 2008. His extensive experience at both the collegiate and high school levels will provide a valuable asset in recruitment of student-athletes.
