Following another dismal season and the resignation of third-year head coach Nadine Lilavois, the UB women's volleyball team was faced with a single question: What could make the struggling team succeed?
The answer: Hire a dedicated coach with credentials and a winning attitude. Enter local volleyball legend Sally Kus.
Kus was formally introduced by Director of Athletics Robert Arkeilpane as the team's new head coach during a press conference yesterday at Alumni Arena. The 27-year veteran brings a long list of credentials, including 292 consecutive wins at Sweet Home High School - a National Federation of State High School Associations record for any sport, male or female.
"I've been called upon to try to set a foundation, but after meeting the team yesterday, [I know] they're the foundation here," Kus said. "What I plan to do is add passion to the sport and build a program. We're in the basement, everyone knows that. And the only way to get out of the basement is a step at a time."
Building the Bulls into a respectable program might be the most daunting task Kus has ever faced. Buffalo is coming off of two straight winless seasons in Mid-American Conference play.
"I love challenges, I love pressure, and that's what I want to try to instill to the players: Pressure's where it's at, it's a riot," said Kus.
Wherever she has coached, there has been tremendous success. In 23 years at Sweet Home she guided the Panthers to an astounding 794-29 record, winning 96.5 percent of her matches. Kus earned collegiate respect in her four seasons at Daeman College, a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Division I school, where she was named Conference Coach of the Year in 1999 and 2000.
Arkeilpane considers women's volleyball to be a "high-profile" fall sport, and showed that UB is serious about building a winner in his signing of Kus.
"We want to hire the very best coach for all of our student athletes and I think this is an indication that volleyball is very important to us," Arkeilpane said. "[Kus is] another in a long line of what I think are some great coaching women in our staff at UB."
Recruiting will play a major role in how fast the Bulls can ascend the MAC ladder. Kus hopes her local reputation will attract some of Western New York's most talented players.
"I'd like to hope that all the blue chippers in the area are just going to pound down our door," she said. "But I also realize that you have to hit the recruiting road a little bit and try to get a good blend of kids."
She believes that a good program will speak for itself when recruiting time comes around.
"I think if you produce a fine program and you have a great team and your recruit comes in, if you're honest and truthful, you don't have to remember anything," she said. "When your recruits come in I can feel free and honest to let the kids recruit their teammates. I mean, they are future best friends for life."
Lilavois, who came to UB after spending six seasons as the head coach at Boston College, resigned after a paltry 5-23 season. In her three years as head coach, the Bulls were 20-70. Lilavois was unavailable for comment.
