Mark Engle is in his 14th season as head coach of the Lake Superior State volleyball program. Engle, who became the fourth head coach in the program's history in 1995, has compiled a 117-276 record in 13 seasons.
Engle plans to make the most of the Lakers' impressive team depth in 2008. The Lakers return five out of seven starters and have one of the biggest and most-competitive rosters during his coaching tenure.
In 2001, the Lakers finished 16-14 for their best overall record during Engle's tenure and a No. 10 ranking in the Great Lakes Region. Early in Engle's collegiate coaching career, LSSU notched a 3-1 win over Hillsdale on Sept. 25, 1995, ending a conference winless streak that dated back to Nov. 7, 1992, and spanned 40 matches. Seven of his players have earned All-GLIAC honors, and 24 players have earned GLIAC All-Academic recognition.
Engle is no stranger to the Eastern Upper Peninsula volleyball community. He served as the head coach at Cedarville (Mich.) High School from 1983-95. His team advanced to the U.P. Championship match eight straight years from 1988-95, capturing four consecutive U.P. titles (1992-95). Engle was voted U.P. Class D Coach of the Year three straight seasons (1992-94).
Prior to moving to Cedarville, Engle coached the varsity and junior varsity girls' volleyball teams at West Ottawa High School in Holland, Mich. During his tenure as a high school coach, Engle notched a 354-92 record (.794 winning percentage). Engle also coached the junior high girls team at Zeeland (Mich.) Middle School and AAU Junior Olympic teams.
Engle and his wife, Esther, are the parents of
three children: Ellie, Casey and Evan, and they have one
grandchild. Ellie (1995-98) and Casey (1998-2001) were four-year
letter winners for the Laker volleyball program, while Evan
(2000-2004) was a four-year letter winner for the Laker men's
basketball team and plays professional beach volleyball.
Associate Professor Joe Susi, who is LSSU's director of Athletic Training Education, served as a volunteer assistant volleyball coach from 1997-99 and has returned to the bench in 2008.
Susi, who has been a member of LSSU's staff since 1992, has a B.A. in health, physical education and sports medicine from Ohio University ('88) and a M.S. in athletic training from Indiana University ('89). He plans to complete his doctorate in 2009.
Susi will assist with general coaching duties and manage the
Lakers' condition program.
