Completed Event: Volleyball versus Incarnate Word on August 29, 2025 , Win , 3, to, 0
Final
Volleyball
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vs Incarnate Word
0
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Assistant Volleyball Coach Joel McCartney Accepts Head Position At Winthrop :: McCartney returns to head coaching role after one season with Sooners.
August 09, 2001 | Volleyball
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 Former Oklahoma volleyball assistant coach Joel McCartney. |
Aug. 9, 2001
NORMAN, Okla. -- University of Oklahoma assistant volleyball coach Joel McCartney has accepted the head coaching position at Winthrop University, located in Rock Hill, S.C. He replaces Cathy Ivester, who led the volleyball team for four years.
McCartney takes over a team at Winthrop that is coming off a 24-10 overall performance and a second-place finish in the Big South Conference. The 24 victories in 2000 set a school record for most wins since Winthrop became a Division I school in 1987.
"I'm very excited for Joel to be able to accept a Division I head coaching position," said OU Head Coach Kalani Mahi. "In this profession, if the time is right and the fit is there, you have to take a serious look at the job."
McCartney was the top assistant on the OU coaching staff a year ago. A former teammate of Coach Mahi at Graceland College (Iowa), McCartney helped with recruiting, game day operations and coaching during his time at OU. The Sooners went 7-21 last season, finishing 10th in the Big 12 Conference.
A native of Papillion, Neb., McCartney began his coaching career at Eastern Kentucky University. He then served as an assistant coach at Indiana State from 1993-95 before taking the reigns of the Nebraska Tornadoes, a National Volleyball Association Professional League team. He worked with the Tornadoes from 1996-98. His 1998 team won the NVA national championship.
After his stint with the Tornadoes, McCartney took over the volleyball program at Bellevue (Neb.). He led the NAIA school to a 115-51 record over four years. His 2000 team advanced to the NAIA Elite Eight and compiled a 31-8 record that year.
Aside from coaching, McCartney has also played on the collegiate and professional level. He was an Academic All-American and Collegiate Club All-American at Graceland College (Iowa) from 1983-87. He also played for the USAV Open National Champions, Nike Molten, in 1988 before going to Sweden from 1989-91 to compete professionally.
A 1987 graduate of Graceland College, McCartney received a bachelor of science degree in business administration with a minor in physical education. He earned his master's degree in sports administration from EKU in 1992. He is married to the former Andrea Viviano who was a volunteer coach with the OU volleyball program this past season. She recently accepted the head coaching position at Norman North High School and will join her husband following the NNHS volleyball season.
VB Highlights: OU 3, Florida State 2
Wednesday, September 10
VB Highlights: OU 3, Abilene Christian 0
Saturday, August 30
VB Highlights: OU 3, Incarnate Word 0
Friday, August 29
VB Highlights: OU 3, Missouri State 1
Friday, August 29
