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Head Coach Joel B. Dearing
 Joel Dearing will enter his 20th season as head women's volleyball coach and associate professor of physical education at his alma mater in the fall of 2008. Dearing is regarded nationally as one of the sport’s best coaches and he has the resume to prove it. During his tenure at Springfield College, Dearing’s record sits at 505-179, a winning percentage of .738, and he ranks in the top-10 in Division III history with a 638-293 (.685) overall mark in 27 seasons as a women’s volleyball coach.
Championships and post-season competition are hallmarks of the Dearing era. In 2007, Dearing's coaching was put to the test as he returned just one starter from the previous season, yet still managed to guide the Pride to a 23-10 record. In the 2006 campaign, the Pride posted an impressive 27-8 record, advancing to the NEWMAC championship before losing to top-seeded Coast Guard.
During the 2003 and 2004 seasons, SC won back-to-back NEWMAC titles. In both banner years, the Pride advanced to the New England Regional Championship. In 2003, the Pride rolled to a 34-3 record which included a school-record 21-match win streak. SC has qualified for the NCAA Tournament seven times in the last 11 seasons.
SC has enjoyed 34-straight winning seasons, including 15 straight with at least 20 wins under Coach Dearing. In two of the last six seasons, his teams have captured at least 30 wins. In 2001, SC posted a 31-7 record, won its first NEWMAC regular-season championship and made its fourth-straight appearance in the conference tournament championship match.
From 1993 to 1997, Dearing clubs went to five-straight NCAA Tournaments. The Pride won the NCAA Division III Northeast Regional Championship in 1995 and 1996, advancing to the national quarterfinals both seasons. Springfield College reached the NCAA Division II Championship in 1993 and 1994, and was the Northeast-10 (NE-10) Conference Tournament champion in 1990, 1993, and 1994. In 1992, the Pride won the ECAC Division II Tournament.
In the Spring of 2006, USA Volleyball, the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), and Molten USA recognized Dearing with the Trailblazer Award for his role in establishing the Men’s Invitational Volleyball Championship 11 years ago. Dearing was named the NEWMAC and AVCA Division III New England Region Coach of the Year in 2003, awards he also won in ‘96. He was named the NE-10 Coach of the Year in 1990, ‘93, and ‘94, and the AVCA Division II Northeast Region Coach of the Year in ‘94. Dearing also coached the Springfield College men's volleyball team from 1990 to 1996, compiling a 130-52 record.
Prior to joining the Springfield College staff, Dearing served as the director of athletics at Roger Williams (R.I.) University, where he started both the women's and men's volleyball programs. While there, Dearing compiled an overall record of 174-136. His women's teams posted a 133-114 mark in eight years, while the men's squads had a three-year record of 41-22.
A USAVB Level III accredited coach, Dearing serves as a member of the Volleyball Hall of Fame board of directors and the U.S. Coaching Accreditation Program Cadre. He just completed his 24th summer directing the Dearing Volleyball School. He is also the author of a pair of books entitled Volleyball Fundamentals and The Untold Story of William G. Morgan, Inventor of Volleyball.
Dearing earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education at Springfield College in 1979 and a master’s degree in physical education from Bridgewater State College in 1982.
In June of 1996, Dearing served as a clinician at the National High School Athletic Coaches Association convention in Cromwell, Conn. He also has conducted clinics in Aruba, Argentina, Bermuda, China, and Ireland.
During the 1997-98 academic year, Dearing served as the Springfield College Distinguished Professor of Humanics.
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