News Summary

What was bad news for Shawnee High School is good news for Wittenberg University.

Longtime Braves volleyball head coach Dennis Dahlberg has decided to return to the collegiate ranks, leaving a prep program that he had built to be among the best in the state for an assistant's slot with his alma mater.

"The only thing that's constant is change, and it certainly felt like the right time for a change," said Dahlberg. "Most coaches and most players like to leave things on top. I am leaving the coaching part on a positive note (at Shawnee) with seven returning seniors, and a couple of those are Division I prospects. They are a very talented group."

The Braves have been in the top 20 in the state and the Central Buckeye Conference Kenton Trail Division champions six of Dahlberg's seven years at the helm. During that time, Shawnee had a record of 126-35, with 20 all-state and 23 all-district players.

"It was very hard, one of the most difficult things I have done," he said of leaving the Braves. "You have to weigh your own personal goals with what is best for the program. I just finished my master's degree in physical education this past summer, so it was a good time."

On joining the Tigers, who lost in the NCAA Division III Final Four last season, he said: "With the program I'm working with, it couldn't be a better move."

One of the factors in his decision was his friendship with Witt head coach Paco Labrador.

"I've had an opportunity to work with him before at team camps at Miami University," Dahlberg said. "Two of our former players, Caitlin Augustus (senior) and Laura Schumaker (sophomore), play there now. I knew (Labrador) previously from Miami because one of our former players went there. He's a very good coach."

Dahlberg started off as a graduate assistant women's volleyball coach and then was head coach at Clark State for one year. After a one-year stint at London as head coach, he came to Shawnee.

Now he's out of the head-coaching limelight.