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Volleyball Coach Mike Gawlik Resigns to Pursue Other Professional Opportunities
11/24/2024 2:00:00 PM | Volleyball
Gawlik has guided CMU to three 20-win seasons, two postseason berths, and four MAC Tournament appearances.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.—After nine successful seasons leading the Central Michigan volleyball program, head coach Mike Gawlik announced on Sunday that he is resigning his position to pursue other professional opportunities. Assistant coach Stef Jankiewicz has been named the Interim Head Volleyball Coach.
Through the years, Gawlik has put the program on a firm foundation and orchestrated a steady rebuild that has established the Chippewas as a perennial contender in the Mid-American Conference. During his nine-year tenure, Gawlik has guided Central Michigan to three 20-win seasons, two NIVC postseason berths, four MAC Tournament appearances, and a 137-123 overall record.
The recently completed 2024 season was Gawlik's best yet as the Chippewas put together the school's most successful campaign since 1983, finishing 24-7 overall and in second place in the MAC with a 15-3 league record. CMU earned the No. 2 seed upon advancing to the 2024 MAC Tournament. In addition, five players earned seven All-MAC postseason honors as Allie Korba became the first setter in school history to earn the MAC Setter of the Year award. Korba, along with outside hitter Natalia Rejment were First Team All-MAC honorees, middle blockers Abby Olin and Grace Thomas earned Second Team All-MAC accolades, and Thomas and libero Hannah Langton were named to the MAC All-Freshman Team.
"I'm incredibly proud of the program and what we have been able to accomplish in the last nine seasons," Gawlik said. "Thank you to all the amazing student-athletes, their families, the fans, and alums for their consistent support. Mount Pleasant has been a wonderful community for me and my family. I'm sad to be leaving, but know the program is in a healthy place moving forward."
Gawlik was named the MAC Coach of the Year in 2019 after he led the Chippewas to a 21-9 finish, a share of the MAC West title, and a berth in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship. The division crown was CMU's first since 2003. The NIVC berth marked CMU's first postseason appearance since 2011 and the 21 victories were the most for the program since 2007. In 2022, the Chippewas compiled a 20-12 overall record, 12-6 league record, placed second in the West and earned another NIVC postseason berth.
Since Gawlik was hired prior to the 2016 season, the Central Michigan volleyball program has produced 24 All-MAC selections, including six all-freshman team honorees, and 51 Academic All-MAC selections. He has coached two CSC Academic All-District honorees, and had five teams and three consecutive squads earn the AVCA Award, which requires a year-long team grade point average above a 3.50.
"We are fortunate to have had Coach Gawlik leading our volleyball program for the past nine years," Zyzelewski Family Vice President/Director of Athletics Amy Folan said. "He has built a successful program here at Central Michigan, one that we have been very proud of. Mike is a great leader and has also done a tremendous job in the Mount Pleasant community and beyond. This past season has proved to be a year to remember. We are saddened to see Coach Gawlik and his family go, but we wish them the very best."
Gawlik came to CMU after serving for 11 seasons as an assistant coach at Michigan State under George, helping to lead the Spartans to nine NCAA Tournament appearances including three trips to the Sweet 16. In 2010, Gawlik was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) "Thirty Under 30" list, which annually honors up-and-coming coaches who are under age 30. He was part of a MSU staff that landed top-10 recruiting classes in 2008, 2013 and 2014, and he served as the liaison between the AVCA and the assistant coaches throughout the Big Ten Conference.
A four-year starter at setter and libero at Pacific, Gawlik graduated in 2005 as the program's record holder in games played (382) and digs (849). He was a two-year captain, an All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation selection, was named a Strength and Conditioning All-American in 2005, and earned the Student of the Year Award in 2005 for sports science majors. He earned a master's degree in athletic administration from MSU in 2011. He and his wife Katie have a 6-year-old daughter, Wynn.
A national search to find Gawlik's successor will commence immediately.
"We are committed to the continued success of our volleyball program," Folan said. "A national search is underway to find an outstanding leader while guiding us into the future. We are confident our community will rally behind this next chapter in Chippewa volleyball."
Through the years, Gawlik has put the program on a firm foundation and orchestrated a steady rebuild that has established the Chippewas as a perennial contender in the Mid-American Conference. During his nine-year tenure, Gawlik has guided Central Michigan to three 20-win seasons, two NIVC postseason berths, four MAC Tournament appearances, and a 137-123 overall record.
The recently completed 2024 season was Gawlik's best yet as the Chippewas put together the school's most successful campaign since 1983, finishing 24-7 overall and in second place in the MAC with a 15-3 league record. CMU earned the No. 2 seed upon advancing to the 2024 MAC Tournament. In addition, five players earned seven All-MAC postseason honors as Allie Korba became the first setter in school history to earn the MAC Setter of the Year award. Korba, along with outside hitter Natalia Rejment were First Team All-MAC honorees, middle blockers Abby Olin and Grace Thomas earned Second Team All-MAC accolades, and Thomas and libero Hannah Langton were named to the MAC All-Freshman Team.
"I'm incredibly proud of the program and what we have been able to accomplish in the last nine seasons," Gawlik said. "Thank you to all the amazing student-athletes, their families, the fans, and alums for their consistent support. Mount Pleasant has been a wonderful community for me and my family. I'm sad to be leaving, but know the program is in a healthy place moving forward."
Gawlik was named the MAC Coach of the Year in 2019 after he led the Chippewas to a 21-9 finish, a share of the MAC West title, and a berth in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship. The division crown was CMU's first since 2003. The NIVC berth marked CMU's first postseason appearance since 2011 and the 21 victories were the most for the program since 2007. In 2022, the Chippewas compiled a 20-12 overall record, 12-6 league record, placed second in the West and earned another NIVC postseason berth.
Since Gawlik was hired prior to the 2016 season, the Central Michigan volleyball program has produced 24 All-MAC selections, including six all-freshman team honorees, and 51 Academic All-MAC selections. He has coached two CSC Academic All-District honorees, and had five teams and three consecutive squads earn the AVCA Award, which requires a year-long team grade point average above a 3.50.
"We are fortunate to have had Coach Gawlik leading our volleyball program for the past nine years," Zyzelewski Family Vice President/Director of Athletics Amy Folan said. "He has built a successful program here at Central Michigan, one that we have been very proud of. Mike is a great leader and has also done a tremendous job in the Mount Pleasant community and beyond. This past season has proved to be a year to remember. We are saddened to see Coach Gawlik and his family go, but we wish them the very best."
Gawlik came to CMU after serving for 11 seasons as an assistant coach at Michigan State under George, helping to lead the Spartans to nine NCAA Tournament appearances including three trips to the Sweet 16. In 2010, Gawlik was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) "Thirty Under 30" list, which annually honors up-and-coming coaches who are under age 30. He was part of a MSU staff that landed top-10 recruiting classes in 2008, 2013 and 2014, and he served as the liaison between the AVCA and the assistant coaches throughout the Big Ten Conference.
A four-year starter at setter and libero at Pacific, Gawlik graduated in 2005 as the program's record holder in games played (382) and digs (849). He was a two-year captain, an All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation selection, was named a Strength and Conditioning All-American in 2005, and earned the Student of the Year Award in 2005 for sports science majors. He earned a master's degree in athletic administration from MSU in 2011. He and his wife Katie have a 6-year-old daughter, Wynn.
A national search to find Gawlik's successor will commence immediately.
"We are committed to the continued success of our volleyball program," Folan said. "A national search is underway to find an outstanding leader while guiding us into the future. We are confident our community will rally behind this next chapter in Chippewa volleyball."
—CMU—
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