Erin Virtue hired as U-M volleyball head coach
https://mgoblue.com/news/2023/1/17/erin-virtue-announced-as-michigan-volleyball-coach.aspx
She was an assistant at U-M from 2011-2015.
Also, for those of you who don't already know, Jess Mruzik, the highest-rated recruit on the team, hit the transfer portal shortly after Mark Rosen was dismissed. She was associated with the team since she was a small child (as a ball-girl), so most people probably assumed she was unlikely to leave. According to the volleyball forums, she was dating Mark Rosen's son (I can't confirm this), so that might have something to do with it.
I don't know of any other players that hit the portal, but that doesn't mean there aren't any.
January 17th, 2023 at 3:47 PM ^
Well, hopefully this new coach doesn’t have the same vices as the last one, but her name is a good start!
January 17th, 2023 at 5:42 PM ^
If we play and beat Stanford next season the Daily Headline could read "Cardinal Virtue"
January 17th, 2023 at 9:18 PM ^
For those of us not in the know, what vices?
January 18th, 2023 at 10:31 AM ^
For real, the amount of upvotes makes me feel like I missed something somewhere about why he was on leave to end the season.
January 17th, 2023 at 3:50 PM ^
Did Santa work out her contract too?
January 17th, 2023 at 3:55 PM ^
Came here to make post and you beat me to it!
January 17th, 2023 at 4:04 PM ^
At least now we know why Warde was too busy to deal with Harbaugh.
January 17th, 2023 at 4:00 PM ^
How long have they've been dating and where did they meet?
January 17th, 2023 at 4:31 PM ^
Been around open gyms in the area with them, it's been about two years. He started hanging out at Cliff Keen to spend time with his parents, turned himself into a really good player while he was there.
January 17th, 2023 at 4:04 PM ^
Sounds like a virtuous hire.
Sorry...
January 17th, 2023 at 4:30 PM ^
Damn, I hadn't heard that Jess Mruzik was in the portal. That's a huge loss to this team, as she was consistently our best player.
Per this link, she's not the only one:
Among some of the others are Wisconsin’s Jade Demps, Michigan’s Jess Mruzik, May Pertofsky and Jess Robinson, and Melanie Parra of Texas.
Those are 3 of our 4 best middles/outsides (along with Jackie Boney) we lose. Ouch.
January 17th, 2023 at 4:41 PM ^
Holy shit, this will hurt big time! May need to reevaluate whether to continue with our season VB tickets.
January 17th, 2023 at 5:20 PM ^
Holy cow that sucks
January 17th, 2023 at 4:32 PM ^
Thanks for the update.
January 17th, 2023 at 4:33 PM ^
With her contacts on the National Development Team programming side, I would expect immediate recruiting impact. Seems like a really great hire--the combo of UM culture awareness and national level competitive success. Volleyball is such a great spectator sport--I look forward to UM becoming relevant in the conversation.
January 18th, 2023 at 12:48 PM ^
I'm excited about the recruiting angle for sure. Hopefully, we get improved talent and coaching. I don't see any reason why we can't build in a couple of years what osu has just done under Jen Flynn Oldenburg.
We've had fits and starts under Rosen, but it's time for a change. Sucks to lose Mruzik, Robinson, and Pertofsky, but I see a bright future ahead.
Hope Virtue can use those contacts to reel in some top talent.
January 17th, 2023 at 4:51 PM ^
Warde is the JV AD. Working out contract negotiations when the School President figures out things with Harbaugh...hilarious!
January 17th, 2023 at 4:55 PM ^
The athletic department is clearly Virtue signaling with this hire.
January 17th, 2023 at 6:33 PM ^
Let’s hope she’s performative!
January 17th, 2023 at 5:17 PM ^
Welcome back, Erin
January 17th, 2023 at 6:07 PM ^
I didn't realize how many players were in the portal. Assuming we can't get them back, this is a big rebuilding project.
January 17th, 2023 at 7:29 PM ^
Karch Kiraly speaks very highly of her. That's good enough for me.
January 17th, 2023 at 9:17 PM ^
March is the Jim Harbaugh of v-ball. I trust him.