.jpg?max_height=200&max_width=150)
The Bryant University volleyball program has enjoyed an unparalleled period of success under head coach Theresa Garlacy's 12-year career in Smithfield, R.I., and the Bulldogs look to continue their winning ways in Garlacy's 13th season - and first against Division I competition - in 2008.
During the past 12 seasons, Garlacy has led the Bulldogs to 10 NCAA Division II tournament appearances (including a berth in each of the last nine tournaments), an ECAC championship, five Northeast-10 Conference titles and seven appearances in the conference championship match.
In 2007, Bryant's final season in Division II, the Bulldogs went out with a bang, winning not just the Northeast-10 Conference regular-season title with a perfect 14-0 conference record (32-12 overall), but also capturing the program's fifth Northeast-10 Conference tournament championship and 10th berth into the NCAA tournament. The Bulldogs posted wins over Adelphi University and the University of New Haven before falling to host Dowling College in the regional final.
Garlacy has accrued a myriad of accomplishments and milestones during her storied career, including recording the program's 700th victory in the 2007 season.
Garlacy notched her 100th career victory in 1999 - just four years into her head coaching career. Four years later, she earned win No. 200, following that with victory No. 300 on September 15, 2006, with a win over Saint Michael's.
Garlacy boasts a career coaching record of 344-139 (.712), putting her among the national leaders for active Division II head coaches. Among active coaches, she leaves Division II ranked No. 24 in winning percentage and No. 26 in career victories. In terms of winningest coach all-time, Garlacy falls in at No. 17 in Division II history.
Garlacy has been involved with all 10 of Bryant's NCAA appearances, nine as head coach and one - in 1994 - as an assistant coach. She spent two years as an assistant coach with the Bulldogs before being promoted to head coach in 1996.
In just her second season as Bryant's head coach, Garlacy was recognized as the 1997 Northeast-10 Conference Coach of the Year after leading the Bulldogs to a 28-13 record and an NCAA tournament appearance.
In 1998, she led Bryant to the Northeast-10 Championship and the ECAC title, as Bryant finished with a 30-13 record. The Bulldogs returned to the NCAA field in 1999, despite losing five starters from the '98 conference championship team, and made it two-straight national tournament appearances in 2000 despite having no seniors on the roster.
Garlacy led a veteran squad to the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2001 before taking the Bulldogs to the NCAA regional final a year later, leaving Bryant as one of the last 16 teams alive in the '02 tournament.
In 2003, the Bulldogs enjoyed one of their most successful seasons in school history, winning a school-record 37 matches and posting an undefeated Northeast-10 Conference record en route to the conference regular-season and tournament titles. In recognition of her coaching efforts, Garlacy was named the 2003 Northeast-10 Coach of the Year.
In 2004, the Bulldogs claimed yet another NE-10 Conference title with an undefeated record and the program's sixth-straight NCAA regional appearance.
In 2005, Bryant successfully defended its conference tournament championship, not only earning another berth in the NCAA tournament, but hosting the regional at the Chace Athletic Center.
This year, Garlacy begins her third stint as a member of the NCAA regional volleyball committee. She has served as a member of the ECAC championships committee and the NCAA volleyball rules committee in recent years, as well.
Garlacy, honored by the Rhode Island Special Olympics with the Distinguished Service Award in 2003, is a 1988 graduate of Providence College and earned a master's degree in teaching from Rhode Island College in 1992.
