The Marshalltown Community College Department of Athletics has announced the hiring of Peter Cruz as the head women's volleyball coach. Cruz comes to MCC after three seasons at the University of Arkansas Monticello, an NCAA Division II program.
Cruz took over the Blossoms' program prior to the 2012 season and won 38 games over three seasons. In 2014, Cruz guided Arkansas Monticello to a 15-15 record, just the third team in the program's history to finish with a winning percentage of .500 or better. The Blossoms posted a team GPA of 3.3 in the spring of 2015 and had eight players earn all-academic honors.
Prior to his time at Arkansas Monticello, Cruz served as an assistant coach on the women's volleyball staff at American University from 2011-12 and at the University of West Alabama from 2009-11. Cruz's first head coaching job came at Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, NC from 2007-09.
In the team's first season at the NJCAA Division I level, the MCC volleyball program posted a record of 18-27.
MCC Director of Athletics Dan Huntley noted Cruz's experience as a sign of good things to come in the Tiger program. "I am very happy to be able to offer Peter Cruz an opportunity to work with an exceptional group of coaches on our staff," Huntley expressed. "Peter will excel and provide leadership and excitement to our volleyball program. He has a great background as a head and assistant coach that will allow him to step right in and begin to develop a program with his style of players and play. I have confidence that all of our programs are now in good hands and our student-athletes have great mentors to lead them.
Cruz received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management and Society from the University of North Carolina and completed a Masters of Education in Physical Education and Coaching from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
MCC opens up play at the Lincoln Land Logger Invitational August 28-29 in Springfield, IL.
