SUNY Old Westbury director of athletics Lenore J. Walsh announced Tuesday the hiring of Krishna Dass as the new women's volleyball coach.
Dass comes to Old Westbury with over 15 years of coaching experience and most recently held the director of athletics, recreation & intramural sports title at Hostos Community College in Bronx, New York.
"I am excited to see coach Dass back on the coaching sidelines," commented Walsh. "She brings with her an extensive coaching and recruiting resume which will we believe will take Panthers Volleyball to another level".
In addition to her coaching responsibilities, Dass will assist assistant director of athletics for athletic facilities/senior woman administrator Brittany Villalta with the game day preparation and management of indoor intercollegiate contests as the indoor athletics facilities assistant.
After a brief hiatus from coaching, Dass returned to the sideline earlier this year serving as the head coach at Monroe College in Bronx, New York. In her brief stint at Monroe, Dass was able to make impactful changes, recruiting top student-athletes from the New York City area.
Previously, Dass was able to lead and transform the Hostos athletic department to extraordinary success over the past six years at the helm. During her tenure, the athletic programs earned two National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Championships, four regional championships and five conference championships leading her to be named the 2016 National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators (currently known as Women Leaders in College Sports) Administrator of the Year. Dass also owns her own business, COACH*ABILITY, LLC, a sports consulting business that provides development services for coaches and athletes for the past three years.
"I am ecstatic to join the Old Westbury athletic staff and look forward to competing in the Skyline Conference, and to be back on the NCAA Division III stage," said Dass. I look forward to recruiting top-caliber student-athletes who have a shared vision of academic and athletic excellence. With a beautiful campus, expansive course offering and top-notch athletic facilities, the future looks bright for the Panthers!"
Prior to Hostos, Dass served as the head volleyball coach and associate director of athletics/senior woman administrator at fellow Skyline Conference member Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York. Dass was instrumental in transitioning Sarah Lawrence to NCCA Division III status. In 2012, Dass led the Gryphons to a program-best 19-13 record en route to capturing the Hudson Valley Women's Athletic Conference Championship and earned the HVWAC Coach of the Year honors.
From 2007-09, Dass served as the head women's volleyball coach, assistant to the vice president, accommodations specialist and business director at the City College of New York in Harlem, New York. During the 2009 campaign, Dass led the Beavers to a City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) Championship title earning the berth to the NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Tournament. Her 2008 squad tied the college's record for the most wins in a season and made an appearance in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament. While at City College, Dass also held the title of head coach of the men's volleyball team.
Dass also spent four seasons at Baruch College as the head coach where she led the Bearcats to a CUNYAC Championship and NCAA Division III Tournament appearance in 2005. During her time coaching in the CUNYAC, Dass was named Coach of the Year on four occasions (2002, '05, '07, '08).
Dass kickstarted her coaching career at her alma mater, Hunter College, where she spent two seasons as the Hawks' assistant women's volleyball coach, helping the squad to back-to-back CUNYAC titles and NCAA Championship berths. As a student-athlete, Dass proved to be an invaluable member of the women's volleyball program. She was named CUNYAC Rookie of the Year in 1994 before being recognized as the conference's Player of the Year in 1996 and 1997.
Dass would graduate in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in economics before receiving a master's degree in recreation & parks administration from Lehman College in 2011. Dass is currently ABD in her doctoral degree in high education administration from Northeastern University.
Dass currently resides in Far Rockaway, N.Y.
