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Eric Neely Chosen As Babson's New Head Women's Volleyball Coach
BABSON PARK, Mass. -- The Babson College Athletics Department
has named Eric Neely as its head women's
volleyball coach and coordinator of club sports, Director of
Athletics Josh MacArthur announced recently.
Neely comes to Babson after a brilliant six-year career as head
volleyball coach at Ursuline Academy in nearby Dedham. During his
tenure, Ursuline went 94-40 and won four South sectional
Championships. Neely was named Boston Globe Coach of the Year in
2008 after leading the program to a 20-2 mark and one of its two
league titles under his guidance.
An avid volleyball player and teacher, Neely has served as a coach
for Smash Volleyball's Junior Olympic teams since late 2006, and he
coached the Women's club team at Northeastern University this past
spring. He has also worked as an eighth-grade social studies
teacher at Ahern Middle School since 2009 and an assistant boys
basketball coach at Foxborough High School since 2007.
A native of Easton, Massachusetts, Neely graduated from the
University of Rochester in 1998 and later his law degree from the
University of Georgia Law School in 2003.
"We're extremely excited to have Eric on board as our new head
volleyball coach," MacArthur said. "He is enormously passionate
about his sport and about teaching young people both on and off the
court. To a person, everyone we talked to about Eric said that his
love of athletics, his ability to connect with players and peers,
and his desire to succeed are unmatched."
Neely takes over Babson's volleyball program following the
departure of alumna Tonya Strange '94, who led the Beavers to four
straight double-digit win seasons in her second stint as head
coach. He will inherit a roster that includes two-time All-NEWMAC
honoree Meg
Flaherty '12, as well as standout setter Kathleen
Lynch '13 and top middle Cathy
Tinker '13.
In addition to his coaching duties, Neely will oversee Babson's
highly popular club sports, which include men's and women's rugby,
cheerleading, and men's and women's ice hockey.
"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to coach at a top school like Babson," Neely said. "I can't wait to get started. This is a fantastic college in one of the best leagues in the country."
