Schoultz named volleyball coach at Lawrence University

APPLETON, Wis. -- Matt Schoultz has been hired as the new volleyball coach at Lawrence University, Director of Athletics Robert Beeman announced today.

Schoultz comes to Lawrence from Appleton's Xavier High School, where he has been the head volleyball coach for 11 seasons. He compiled a 294-141-64 record and won three Valley 8 Conference championships with the Hawks. Under Schoultz's guidance, Xavier won four WIAA regional championships and qualified for the 2001 and 2005 state tournaments.

"I am excited for the opportunity to coach student-athletes at Lawrence," Schoultz said. "It was difficult to leave Xavier High School, but the Lawrence community is much like the Xavier community. Everyone is like family, and there is a sense of pride that you don't see at all schools today. Lawrence has a high standard of excellence in the classroom and on the playing field. I hope to continue the Lawrence tradition and help the volleyball program achieve excellence."

Schoultz has won three coaching awards during his tenure at Xavier. He was named the Fox Valley Christian Conference Coach of the Year in 1997, earned Post-Crescent All-Area Coach of the Year honors in 2001, and was named Valley 8 Coach of the Year in 2005.

"We are very pleased to have someone of Matt's caliber take over the volleyball program," Beeman said. "He has great ties to the local community, and his record and reputation are impeccable."

Schoultz, a 1986 Xavier graduate, earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

Schoultz replaces Lori Papineau, who stepped down in February after one season to become the head volleyball coach at Adrian College. Papineau was 10-15 in her only season at Lawrence, and the Vikings finished in fourth place in the Midwest Conference's North Division with a 3-6 record.

The Vikings return 11 letterwinners from the 2005 squad, led by two-time All-Midwest Conference outside hitter Kelly Mulcahy.