Stephen Wilcosky
Head Coach
Steve Wilcosky led the Sharks volleyball team to unchartered waters in his third year at the helm for Nova Southeastern University in 2008. Not only did Wilcosky coach NSU to their second consecutive NCAA bid, but NSU captured their first ever NCAA Division II South Regional Title to advance further than any team in program history. The Sharks took an unusual path to the South Regional title, winning as the sixth seed in an eight team field. After sweeping SSC rival Lynn University out of the field in the opening round, NSU was forced to pull off a thrilling comeback in the semi-finals, overcoming a two set deficit to Saint Leo University. After the Sharks dropped the first two sets against West Florida, the team methodically climbed back into the match and pulled off the upset to capture their first South Regional Championship in program history.
The team ran out of magic in their NCAA Division II Quarterfinal match (Elite 8) vs. national power Truman State in St. Paul, Minn. The Sharks post-season run marks the furthest the team has ever advanced in program history; falling just three victories shy of a national title and finish their season at 24-12.
The Sharks captured numerous honors for the first time ever in 2008. The accolaides include Valia Petrova being named AVCA National Player of the Week and having Petrova and Emily Carle earn the first All-America honors in program history.
In 2007, Wilcosky guided the Sharks to a 15 win improvement over the previous year, a second place finish in the ultra-competitive Sunshine State Conference, and the program's first birth and win in the NCAA Division II South Region Tournament. The Sharks also set multiple program records in 2007, including most wins in a season since joining the NCAA Division II, fewest losses, best won/loss percentage, longest winning streak, longest games winning streak, most consecutive sweeps, highest ranked team ever beaten, and received votes in the national poll for the first time in program history.
The team also set statistical program records for most kills, assists, hitting percentage, aces, digs, and blocks in 2007.
For his accomplishments in 2007, Wilcosky was honored as the Sunshine State Conference coach of the year.
In 2006, under the direction of Wilcosky, the Sharks notched 11 victories which eclipsed the win total of the previous two seasons combined. During the season, NSU also fashioned an impressive four-match sweep on the road in the C.W. Post Tournament in early September.
Wilcosky joined the Sharks' coaching staff following one season with Division I High Point University.
Prior to his time with the High Point volleyball program, Wilcosky had a successful five-year stint as an assistant coach at Greensboro College. While at Greensboro, the team captured a pair of USA South Conference Titles in 2000 and 2004. He also helped develop two conference Players of the Year, three Freshman of the Year, 20 All-Conference performers and an honorable mention All-American.
In addition to his work at the collegiate level, Wilcosky served as the head coach of Team Florida Select Red, which finished 7th out of 35 teams in the High Performance Championships in 2007. He also acted as a USA Volleyball Developmental Coach in the off-season. He also serves as head coach of the 16 elite Boomer's volleyball club, which is a local club program in Broward County.
Wilcosky previously has served as a head coach with the North Carolina High Performance squad. The High Performance team is a pipeline for the USA Volleyball program at the regional level and features many of the top prep volleyball players in North Carolina.
Other coaching stops on Wilcosky's resume include nine years as the head coach for junior teams of the Piedmont Volleyball Club in the Junior Olympic Volleyball program. He also spent that season as the associate head coach of the Piedmont 16's who finished 27th at the National Tournament.
A 2000 graduate of Guilford College with a bachelor's degree in sports medicine, Wilcosky was a four-year letterwinner in football at his alma mater. He served as team captain for Guilford in 1999 and helped guide the squad to a conference championship in 1997. Wilcosky began his volleyball playing career as a two-time All-County performer at Miami (Fla.) Palmetto High School.
