POUGHKEEPSIE, NY...Antonia Sweet, who was part of the Vassar College men’s and women’s volleyball program as an assistant coach from 1998-2007, has been named head coach of the men’s volleyball team. The announcement, which splits the head women’s and men’s volleyball coaching duties into two distinct positions, was made by Sharon Beverly, Director of Athletics & Physical Education.
Under the restructuring, 12-year head men’s coach Jonathan Penn will remain with the program and serve as Sweet’s assistant coach. Sweet will serve as Penn’s assistant with the women’s volleyball team.
Sweet was an integral part of both volleyball coaching staffs from 1998-2007. As an assistant coach with the women’s team, the Brewers won six straight Liberty League Championships from 2001-2006 and qualified for five Division III NCAAA Championships from 2001-2006.
Along with Penn, she earned Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year honors in 2001, 2002 and 2005.
Sweet enjoyed success with the men’s program as well, helping the Brewers to a third place finish in the Molten Division III Invitational Volleyball Championships in 2001 and the NCAA Open Championships in 2003. In addition, the Brewers advanced to the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) Championships from 2000-2003.
During her tenure, both programs enjoyed success off the court, with the women’s team earning an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Award in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007 and the men’s team recognized in 2005 and 2007.
Sweet joined Vassar College in 1998 as a Program Coordinator for Summer Programs and Special Events, a position she held until 2003 when she was elevated to Assistant Director for Summer Programs and Special Events. Prior to joining the Vassar volleyball program, Sweet coached volleyball at numerous high schools and universities, including the University of South Dakota (1996-97) and the University of Rochester (1988-95).
She was the head girls’ varsity coach at The Aquinas Institute in Rochester, NY (1993-94) and in the Fairport (NY) School District from 1993-95.
Sweet is a 1983 graduate of SUNY Geneseo She earned an M. Ed in Sports Administration from Northwestern State University of Louisiana in 1998 as well as an MA in Counseling and Psychology in Education from the University of North Dakota in 1998.
Sweet is member of the AVCA and affiliated with the American Counseling Association and Chi Sigma Iota, a National Counseling Honor Society.