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Hey dal or SH. You guys seem to be up on the lesser known college sports. Towsons volleyball coach,Bruce Atkinson, just got hired away to Winthrop. Is Winthrop a big vball school? I mean Atkinson was crushing the CAA the last couple seasons. Just wondering if this is considered a big step up?

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I'm more in the know on the Left Coast, but that seems like more of a lateral step to me. Maybe they ponied up some cash? The biggest "step up" I've ever heard of in the VB world was John Dunning leaving two NCAA titles behind at UOP for the "redder pastures" of Stanford (where he immediately got another one). I was extremely upset about that (particularly since his replacement ran the program into the ground, and caused UOP to lose it's distinction as one of the three programs to play in the NCAAs every year of its existence), but then I found out that there were family reasons for the move.

SH, I have heard A LOT of money was thrown at him. Just found it interesting, as it looked like a lateral move to me as well.

I have no idea why a school like Winthrop would throw a lot of money at a volleyball coach. VB is a non-revenue sport and Winthrop comes from a one-bid conference whose champion routinely gets crushed in the first round by a team from a second-rate conference like the ACC or SEC. The same can be said of Towson.

CitadelGrad wrote:I have no idea why a school like Winthrop would throw a lot of money at a volleyball coach. VB is a non-revenue sport and Winthrop comes from a one-bid conference whose champion routinely gets crushed in the first round by a team from a second-rate conference like the ACC or SEC. The same can be said of Towson.

Agree. Maybe if he rebuilds Winthrop into a Big South champ like he did with Towson in 3 years a bigger programs will take notice? How far outside of Charlotte is Winthrop? Maybe its cheaper? He's a west coast guy, maybe he got sick of the midatlantic winters?

Winthrop is in Rock Hill, SC, which is about a half-hour drive from Charlotte. The cost of living there probably is lower. If he does turn things around quickly at Winthrop - and that's a big if - then he might get some interest from an SEC or ACC school.

CitadelGrad wrote:Winthrop is in Rock Hill, SC, which is about a half-hour drive from Charlotte. The cost of living there probably is lower. If he does turn things around quickly at Winthrop - and that's a big if - then he might get some interest from an SEC or ACC school.

I already lost interest in this.

CitadelGrad wrote:I have no idea why a school like Winthrop would throw a lot of money at a volleyball coach. VB is a non-revenue sport and Winthrop comes from a one-bid conference whose champion routinely gets crushed in the first round by a team from a second-rate conference like the ACC or SEC. The same can be said of Towson.

Yes, volleyball is not football or mens basketball (which are pretty much the only two real revenue sports. heh)

Winthrop made the NCAA tournament 5 times (2002 through 2006) as the Big South autobid. They lost in the first round each time.

Towson made the tournament once (2004), as the CAA autobid, losing in the first round.