Feeney to pursue dreams

After eight years of coaching at Penn, Feeney decided it was time to move on. The Margaret Feeney era of coaching will be put to rest to make way for her new era of pursuing dreams. The Penn women's volleyball coach announced her resignation yesterday after eight years at the helm of the team. Feeney's term will end December 31. Feeney plans to move from her current role on the sidelines to one in an office. Though she does not have a job lined up, she feels she has "done a lot of good networking" and hopes to find a position in athletic administration. "It has been a goal of mine for some time," she said. In her time at Penn, Feeney has amassed a record of 119-104 overall, and 54-30 in the Ivy League. In her first year, Feeney was able to lead the Quakers to their fifth straight Ivy League title. This year's team underachieved, finishing 11-14 overall and 2-5 in the Ivy League, good for only sixth in the standings. The Quakers were unable to put together more than three consecutive wins at any point in the season. "I've coached for, I don't even know how long? eight years here, and about 12 years total," Feeney said. "But this is something I have always wanted to do, and the time is right to do this now." The decision was discussed with the players yesterday during a team meeting, in which Feeney informed her players of the new intentions. "It was a difficult decision to make thinking about the team," Feeney said. "But I think they feel strongly enough about me that they are happy for me." The search for her successor will begin immediately. With all but two players returning to the roster next year, many Quakers will remain and have to adjust to a new method of coaching. Junior co-captain Megan McKay, a defensive specialist, stated that the reason for Feeney's resignation was a surprise to the team. The senior said that while she was not aware of the desire to move into the field of athletic administration, she knew Feeney had been exposed to the field because her father worked as an administrator. "She has been really helpful and done a lot of great things for a lot of us," McKay said. "So, we wish her the best and she feels the same way about us." The new volleyball coach will return to a team that fielded no All-Ivy League players and finished no higher than fifth in any offensive category (service aces). However, the Quakers' one strength -- a league-leading 2.86 blocks per game -- will be a good building point for Feeney's successor. Juniors Sue Sabatino and Karen Lewis will return, as well as sophomore co-captain K.C. Potter, heading up the the middle blocking of Penn. The players said they would like to have a new head coach in place before they begin their spring season.