Murray State University Athletics
Women's Volleyball
Schwepker, David
David Schwepker
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Phone:
- (270) 809-3825
Head coach David Schwepker enters his 13th season at Murray State and his 16th career season as a collegiate head coach, having begun his coaching career at Tennessee State.
He has the longest tenure of any active volleyball coach in the Ohio Valley Conference at his school, equaled only by Eastern Kentucky’s Lori Duncan. In 2007 he became the first Racer volleyball coach and the 19th coach to serve 10 or more seasons with the Navy and Gold.
Schwepker is the winningest coach in Racer volleyball history, surpassing Brenda Bowlin with the last win of the 2004 season, with a 3-1 win over his former charge, Tennessee State (Nov. 9). He also became the first Racer coach to garner 100 wins, reaching that milestone with a 3-1 win over Idaho State (Sep. 1, 2006).
2008 was a season of milestones for Schwepker. He recorded his 150th career coaching victory (Sep. 23) against Eastern Illinois and then his 150th victory at Murray State (Nov. 15) against Tennessee Tech. Schwepker added a third mark, Nov. 1, 2008, when he became the first Racer coach to win 100 OVC matches when Murray State defeated Austin Peay, 3-2, in Racer Arena.
From his first day on campus, Schwepker has worked feverishly to find the best combination of talent to keep Murray State among the upper echelon of the OVC.
Throughout his tenure at MSU, Schwepker has guided players to 37 all-conference honors, including the Ohio Valley Conference’s first All-American, Paige Sun, and four OVC Players of the Year, including Freshman of the Year, Nikki Wang (2002); Defensive Player of the Year, Heather Norris (2006); Freshman of the Year, Jade Guo (2008); and Defensive Player of the Year, Kayleah Sauer (2009).
In 2008, Schwepker’s team finished third in the OVC regular season standings and then battled to a runner-up finish at the OVC Championship, falling in five sets to Tennessee Tech. The Racers garnered five All-OVC honors, the most under Schwepker’s tutelage since 2002, and Jade Guo was named just the second OVC Freshman of the Year for Murray State.
His guidance also led to five players earning a spot on the all-time Racer record books. Senior Heather Norris claimed the No.1 position on the all-time digs list with 2,125. Fellow senior Alison Mugler also moved into the No. 3 spot on the all-time digs list (1,699), and became the eighth member of the 1,000 Kill Club. Mugler finished her career with 1,104 kills.
Two members of the 2010 roster have also made a name for themselves in the record books under Schwepker’s reign. Junior Jade Guo is on the top-10 list for assists, ranking sixth with 2,277 in two seasons with the Racers. Sara Hayden is also in the record books, for her .271 hitting percentage. The senior is ranked third on the top-10 list.
Schwepker constantly seeks to build challenging schedules for Murray State. In 2007, the Racers battled with a team in the top-75 of the NCAA RPI, with a match against Clemson (No. 22).
Other opponents of note on Schwepker’s watch include Louisville, Michigan, Texas A&M, Utah, Pacific, Montana State, Michigan State, Connecticut, Indiana, Northern Arizona, Colorado State and Utah State. Playing that level of competition has been one of the top goals from the start for Schwepker, considered one of the leading volleyball minds in the conference.
Schwepker was named Murray State’s seventh volleyball coach Feb. 4, 1998, succeeding interim coach Sarah Dearworth.
He came to MSU after a three-year tenure at Tennessee State, where he led the Lady Tigers to what was their best three volleyball seasons ever. In his final year at the helm of TSU, Schwepker led the team to the most wins in a season in school history. The conference wins that the school garnered during his three seasons were the only league wins in Tennessee State’s then-14-year membership in the OVC. Ironically, his final OVC win at Tennessee State came against Murray State.
Prior to gaining the TSU position, Schwepker was an assistant coach at his alma mater, Southeast Missouri State, where he helped the Otahkians gain two OVC regular-season titles (1993, 1994) and one OVC Tournament championship (1994).
In 2003, Schwepker guided the Racers to their first NCAA Tournament appearance after claiming the school’s third OVC Tournament title.
Schwepker is married to the former Kendra Parsons, and they have three sons, Evan, 10; Luke, 9; and Isaac, 6.
He has the longest tenure of any active volleyball coach in the Ohio Valley Conference at his school, equaled only by Eastern Kentucky’s Lori Duncan. In 2007 he became the first Racer volleyball coach and the 19th coach to serve 10 or more seasons with the Navy and Gold.
Schwepker is the winningest coach in Racer volleyball history, surpassing Brenda Bowlin with the last win of the 2004 season, with a 3-1 win over his former charge, Tennessee State (Nov. 9). He also became the first Racer coach to garner 100 wins, reaching that milestone with a 3-1 win over Idaho State (Sep. 1, 2006).
2008 was a season of milestones for Schwepker. He recorded his 150th career coaching victory (Sep. 23) against Eastern Illinois and then his 150th victory at Murray State (Nov. 15) against Tennessee Tech. Schwepker added a third mark, Nov. 1, 2008, when he became the first Racer coach to win 100 OVC matches when Murray State defeated Austin Peay, 3-2, in Racer Arena.
From his first day on campus, Schwepker has worked feverishly to find the best combination of talent to keep Murray State among the upper echelon of the OVC.
Throughout his tenure at MSU, Schwepker has guided players to 37 all-conference honors, including the Ohio Valley Conference’s first All-American, Paige Sun, and four OVC Players of the Year, including Freshman of the Year, Nikki Wang (2002); Defensive Player of the Year, Heather Norris (2006); Freshman of the Year, Jade Guo (2008); and Defensive Player of the Year, Kayleah Sauer (2009).
In 2008, Schwepker’s team finished third in the OVC regular season standings and then battled to a runner-up finish at the OVC Championship, falling in five sets to Tennessee Tech. The Racers garnered five All-OVC honors, the most under Schwepker’s tutelage since 2002, and Jade Guo was named just the second OVC Freshman of the Year for Murray State.
His guidance also led to five players earning a spot on the all-time Racer record books. Senior Heather Norris claimed the No.1 position on the all-time digs list with 2,125. Fellow senior Alison Mugler also moved into the No. 3 spot on the all-time digs list (1,699), and became the eighth member of the 1,000 Kill Club. Mugler finished her career with 1,104 kills.
Two members of the 2010 roster have also made a name for themselves in the record books under Schwepker’s reign. Junior Jade Guo is on the top-10 list for assists, ranking sixth with 2,277 in two seasons with the Racers. Sara Hayden is also in the record books, for her .271 hitting percentage. The senior is ranked third on the top-10 list.
Schwepker constantly seeks to build challenging schedules for Murray State. In 2007, the Racers battled with a team in the top-75 of the NCAA RPI, with a match against Clemson (No. 22).
Other opponents of note on Schwepker’s watch include Louisville, Michigan, Texas A&M, Utah, Pacific, Montana State, Michigan State, Connecticut, Indiana, Northern Arizona, Colorado State and Utah State. Playing that level of competition has been one of the top goals from the start for Schwepker, considered one of the leading volleyball minds in the conference.
Schwepker was named Murray State’s seventh volleyball coach Feb. 4, 1998, succeeding interim coach Sarah Dearworth.
He came to MSU after a three-year tenure at Tennessee State, where he led the Lady Tigers to what was their best three volleyball seasons ever. In his final year at the helm of TSU, Schwepker led the team to the most wins in a season in school history. The conference wins that the school garnered during his three seasons were the only league wins in Tennessee State’s then-14-year membership in the OVC. Ironically, his final OVC win at Tennessee State came against Murray State.
Prior to gaining the TSU position, Schwepker was an assistant coach at his alma mater, Southeast Missouri State, where he helped the Otahkians gain two OVC regular-season titles (1993, 1994) and one OVC Tournament championship (1994).
In 2003, Schwepker guided the Racers to their first NCAA Tournament appearance after claiming the school’s third OVC Tournament title.
Schwepker is married to the former Kendra Parsons, and they have three sons, Evan, 10; Luke, 9; and Isaac, 6.
Conlee Crossno Bye Week Press Conference
Tuesday, September 23
Jody Wright Bye Week Press Conference
Tuesday, September 23
09-22-25 Coach Ryan Miller Press Conference
Monday, September 22
09-22-25 Mason Miller & Fred King Press Conference
Monday, September 22
