AMHERST, N.Y. - Daemen College Director of Athletics Bridget Niland announced today the hiring of Bob Maxwell as the Wildcats' next Head Women's Volleyball Coach.  In addition, Niland reported that Stephanie Albano has been named the program's Associate Head Coach.
 
"The next chapter for the Daemen women's volleyball program could not be in better hands than those of Bob Maxwell and Stephanie Albano, both of whom bring a passion for the sport as well as coaching and playing experience that spans all three NCAA levels of competition," said Niland.  "As always, the student-athlete experience is the focus of all we do at Daemen and it's evident that coaches Maxwell and Albano clearly share that same philosophy."
 
Maxwell comes to Daemen after spending 32 years in a variety of roles at the University at Buffalo, retiring from there in October of 2013.  He rose to prominence while leading the Bulls' women's volleyball program from 1981-98, a period of time which saw the program ascend from Division III to Division II and eventually to Division I.  In that span, Maxwell's teams achieved a record of 409-285-8, giving Maxwell more wins than any coach in any sport in UB's history.  He replaces Mark Parisi who led Daemen to over 150 wins in his 10-year tenure.
 
A native of Amherst and 1979 UB graduate, Maxwell was named the Mid-Continent Coach of the Year in 1997, and his 1986 team went 52-6, achieving the most victories by any team at all divisions that season, and earning a No. 5 ranking in the nation.  In 1989 and 1990, he led the Bulls to No. 1 regional rankings in the Northeast and Atlantic regions, respectively.
 
Maxwell remained at UB after leaving his coaching post, first serving as the Assistant Athletic Director for Facility and Event Operations (1998-2006) before settling in as the Assistant Athletic Director for Capital Projects (2006-13).  It was in these roles that Maxwell aided with several facility initiatives, most notably the renovation of Alumni Arena, the installation artificial turf in UB Stadium and the replacement of the stadium lights with new, state-of-the-art energy efficient lights.
 
"I want to thank Bridget Niland and the entire athletics staff for this opportunity," Maxwell said.  "With most of the roster returning and four strong newcomers entering the program this year, I feel that we are set up very well to get back to the level of success that Daemen Volleyball is accustomed to.  With all that is happening here at Daemen, it is really a great time to be able to join the athletics family and represent the College."
 
Maxwell will lean heavily on his newly-appointed Associate Head Coach, Albano, a Lancaster, N.Y. native who helped the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill to two Atlantic Coast Conference championships during her collegiate career there from 2005-09.  The former Stephanie Jansma is a big name in local volleyball circles, and has been since her scholastic days which saw her lead Lancaster High School to the 2004 New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class AA championship while earning Gatorade New York State Player of the Year honors that season.
 

Like Maxwell, Albano comes to Daemen from UB where she served as an assistant on coach Reed Sunahara's staff in 2014.  In her one season on the Bulls' staff, Albano helped the team to a 17-15 overall record and the program's first appearance at the Mid-American Conference Tournament since. 2010.  She briefly served as the program's Interim Head Coach when Sunahara accepted the head coaching position at West Virginia University earlier this spring.

Albano entered the coaching field as an assistant coach at Canisius College, working for longtime Golden Griffins' coach Cathy Hummel from 2009-10, and later was the Associate Head Coach at Medaille College from 2012-14.  While at Medaille, Albano helped the Mavericks to the program's first-ever Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference championship and a corresponding NCAA Tournament appearance.
 
"I am thrilled and thankful for the opportunity to join the Wildcat family," said Albano.  "It's a very exciting time for Daemen
Athletics with the move to Division II and I cannot wait to be a part of it.  I am looking forward to mentoring these young women to be successful in their athletic and academic careers, as well as their lives after college."
 
In addition, Maxwell will retain the services of Assistant Women's Volleyball Coach Kaley Vazquez.  Vazquez, who starred as a setter for the Wildcats from 2010-14, joined the coaching staff last season.  She currently holds the additional administrative title of Intramurals/Recreation and Wellness Coordinator at Daemen.