A former Ohio Dominican student, assistant coach, and now in her 23nd season as head coach of the Panther volleyball team, Sandy Rowley embodies the Panther persona.  

Rowley has been a fixture in the Panther athletic department for more than 25 years. As part of the Panthers’ transition to the NCAA Division II, Rowley also serves as the Senior Women’s Administrator and Assistant Athletic Director for the ODU Athletic Department. As the SWA, Rowley will oversee the Panther Student Athletic Advisor Committee (SAAC) along with other administrative duties.

Since her first season in 1989, Rowley has been a staple on the Panther bench and in the ODU community. A friendly and demanding coach, Rowley has guided the Panthers to 13 winning seasons, including seven straight from 1994-2000, and 18 conference tournament appearances. In 1995, Rowley directed ODU to a program-record 35 victories, including 18 in conference play, which is also a program record. The team has won at least 20 matches 12 times during her tenure, including two of the past three years.

Rowley’s tremendous dedication and hard work of developing young student-athletes over the years culminated with her 400th win on Oct. 4, 2008, as the Panthers defeated Grace College, 3-1, in Winona Lake, Indiana.

In her 22 seasons at the helm of the ODU volleyball team, Rowley has coached 17 NAIA Academic All-Americans, 30 All-Conference Academic performers, 65 All-Conference selections and 15 All-Freshman Team players. Her dedication to the collegiate athlete has been proven time-and-time again on and off the court.

Rowley and her husband Jeff live in New Albany, Ohio, with their three daughters, Lyndsay, Jennifer and Kelsey.

Rowley at Ohio Dominican