SUNY College at Old Westbury director of athletics, Lenore Walsh announced the hiring of Melinda DiGiovanna as head women’s volleyball coach June 26, 2014. DiGiovanna brings five years of club level coaching to Old Westbury’s sidelines in advance of the 2014 season, in addition to a standout collegiate playing career.
“We are extremely pleased to have Melinda DiGiovanna to join the Panther family,” said Walsh. “We look forward to her building on the foundation of the women's volleyball program by graduating our volleyball student-athletes while bringing team titles to the institution."
DiGiovanna got her first head coaching position with the Apex VBC in 2010, where she was the regional coach for the 15-and 16-year old teams for two and one-half years.
She also has experience as the head coach for the Sacred Heart Academy High School varsity (2013), and the 17-3 Sportime VBC (2013-14). She assisted at Sacred Heart Academy High School junior varsity squad (2013), and has camp experience at her alma mater, SUNY New Paltz (2009-12), as well as at the CollEdge Recruiting Volleyball Camp (2012).
As a former student-athlete herself, DiGiovanna is well-familiarized with the SUNY system, graduating with a degree in Art Education at SUNY New Paltz in 2012 before achieving her master’s in education in 2013 from Durham University.
DiGiovanna was a standout outside hitter at New Paltz, where she was an AVCA Honorable Mention All-American in 2011 and a four-year All-SUNYAC selection. She guided the team to a 119-38 record during her tenure, capping her career in with 1,309 kills (.223 hitting %), 1,606 digs and 187 total blocks in 495 sets. During the Hawks’ magical run to the NCAA Quarterfinals as a freshman, DiGiovanna was named the New York Region’s Most Outstanding Player, compiling 52 kills and 41 digs over four matches (15 sets) in the tournament. DiGiovanna ranks among New Paltz’s all-time leaders in kills (3rd) and digs (3rd). Off the court, DiGiovanna was a three-year member of the school’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and served as president during her senior year.
At Durham, DiGiovanna won the England Mixed Fours National Championship in 2013 in addition to advancing all the way to the UK BUCS National and England National finals in that year.
A native of West Hempstead, New York, DiGiovanna was an All-New York State, All-Long Island and All-Nassau County selection as a senior at West Hempstead High School before embarking on her collegiate career. DiGiovanna was also named to the All-Nassau County Class A Tournament team as a senior, All-Nassau County as a junior and All-Conference as a sophomore.
What They Are saying About Melinda DiGiovanna:
“I am very excited to see Melinda begin her coaching career at Old Westbury. Her understanding of the game and competitive drive will take the Old Westbury program to new heights. After coaching Melinda and watching her coach at the club level, I see her as an outstanding up-and-coming coach who, given the right resources, will achieve the same level of success she did as a student-athlete. I look forward to watching her coaching career unfold.” – New Paltz Head Women’s Volleyball Coach Matthew Giufre
"We are going to miss Melinda so very much. She not only taught our students how to play the game at the highest levels, but more importantly she taught them about life. By her quiet example, she taught them patience, enthusiasm for life and the great game of volleyball, and finally, she taught them the value of hard work on the court, but especially inside the classroom while always treating students, staff, other coaches and officials with respect and kindness at all times." – Sacred Heart Academy High School Director of Athletics Michael Goetz
