LAKEWOOD, NJ- Georgian Court University Director of Athletics & Recreation, Laura Liesman, officially announced today the hiring of Dan Sempkowski as the university’s new head volleyball coach. 

“GCU is very excited to have Coach Sempkowski lead the Lions in 2012 and beyond,” said Liesman. “With the rich history that Georgian Court University volleyball possesses, it was very important to find a coach that we feel can reestablish the tradition and winning ways of the Lions while leading our student-athletes to the pinnacle of success both on and off the court. Dan has the mindset, drive, and ability to make that happen .”    

Sempkowski takes over a GCU program that went 8-24 in 2011 and failed to make the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference for the first time since 2004. However, the Lions are just two years removed from winning its fourth consecutive CACC title and still remain as the only conference squad to ever win an NCAA Division II Tournament match (2008 vs. Merrimack).  

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Dan enters his first year as head coach of the GCU volleyball program after serving as an assistant coach to the men's volleyball program at Ramapo College of New Jersey. A Ramapo alumnus himself, Sempkowski spent four years with the Roadrunners from 2006-2009, before graduating in 2009 with a degree in economics and a minor in political science.

From 2009-2011, Sempkowski served as a graduate assistant coach for the men's and women's volleyball teams at Missouri Valley College.  Sempkowski coached the MAMVIC Libero of the Year in 2011 and 10 all-conference players over the two years, while playing a vital role in the drastic improvement of both squads. 

 During his tenure as a student-athlete with the program, Sempkowski helped lead the team to 105 victories overall, 35 in the NECVA Metro conference.  Highlights from Sempkowski's career included winning the regular NECVA Metro season in 2009 by going 9-0 on the year, making four straight appearances in the NECVA Post-Season Championship Tournament, and winning the ECAC South Championship in 2006 and 2007.  In 2008, the Roadrunners advanced to the semi-finals of the NECVA Championship Tournament with a stunning 3-2 victory over conference rival, Stevens Tech, at the Bradley Center. In 2009, the Roadrunners hosted the Molten Division III Men's Invitational Volleyball Championships, the first appearance by Ramapo in the program's history.

Coach Sempkowski finished his career with 857 digs which is fourth on the all-time leader board, while appearaning in over 360 games.  He was named team’s most improved player in 2007 while serving as a captain to the team for the 2008 and 2009 seasons.  He was a member of SAAC, the finance club, and the college's dean's list.

Sempkowski also has coached and worked with the Warren (NJ) Sixpak Volleyball Club while assisting with USA Volleyball High Performance Tryouts and Developmental Camps.  He also competes in both professional and semi professional beach volleyball tournaments, including the AVP, Wide Open, Toyota Pro Beach East, Great American Volleyball, and East End Volleyball Tours.

He currently resides in East Brunswick, NJ.