Chris Gravel, Head Volleyball Coach

Underneath the sly smile and casual demeanor lies the heart of a champion and competitor in Hillsdale College volleyball coach Chris Gravel. Those are traits he wants his players to approach each day with, even if they aren't easily visible on the surface with the coach.

Gravel is entering his 13th season as Charger volleyball coach in 2008, and has taken the program to unprecedented levels of success. No peak was higher than the one he and his team achieved in 2006, when Hillsdale had an undefeated regular season, a GLIAC South Division championship, and a second GLIAC Coach of the Year honor for Gravel.

"That's what you work for, to have the kind of season we had that year," Gravel reflected. "Yet, with everything we accomplished, I felt like there was more out there for our players to achieve. I'm coming into this season wanting to improve upon last year and I know our returning players are just as hungry to do it again."

The 2007 season cemented Hillsdale's place as an elite Division II team, as the Chargers were ranked in the top 15 all season, and finished with a 26-8 record. Over the past two seasons, Gravel has guided the Chargers to an eye-popping 55-10 overall record. He has also taken the team to its first-ever back-to-back South Division championships in 2006 and 2007.

Gravel is the volleyball program's all-time winningest coach, and won a milestone 200th match of his career on Sept. 30, 2006 vs. Northern Michigan. His 29-2 season was recognized with his second conference coach of the year honor (he won his first in 1999). He guided Hillsdale to a rare undefeated season in GLIAC play, winning the South Division by a whopping five games over rival Findlay.

With the success came plenty of national attention last year, both for Gravel and the program at large. But through it all, he maintained the humble and lighthearted personality that make him the kind of coach players love to play for.

"Anyone who is in coaching understands that success gets traced back to the players you have," Gravel said. "I've been extremely fortunate to have great players who are also great people throughout my time here at Hillsdale."

Gravel has guided the Chargers into the GLIAC postseason tournament in 10 of his first 12 seasons as coach. By virtue of winning the GLIAC South Division - and sparking overall record - Hillsdale College was the host school for the GLIAC Volleyball Tournament for the first time in 2006. Hillsdale also hosted the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Tournament that season, another first for the program.

Prior to taking over the Charger program, Gravel served as an assistant coach at fellow GLIAC schools Grand Valley and Wayne State. A 1990 graduate of Grand Valley, Gravel has also coached at the club and high school level in Jenison and Kalamazoo.

Stephanie Gravel, Associate Head Coach

Gravel doesn't have to look far for great support from his coaching staff. His wife of 11 years, associate head coach Stephanie Gravel is also in her 13th year on the Charger volleyball coaching staff. Stephanie Gravel played collegiately at Schoolcraft College in Livonia, later transferring to Grand Valley where she was a two-year captain for the Lakers. Stephanie's teams at Schoolcraft qualified for the national tournament twice during her career there.

Stephanie does extensive traveling, recruiting and fundraising for the volleyball program. She works closely with players on technique, training and teamwork concepts. She is also in charge of countless behind-the-scenes tasks, including player counseling, travel accommodations, camp promotions and recruiting year-round.

Stephanie also has experience as head coach at Grandville and Reading High Schools. Later in her playing career, Stephanie played for the MPVA (Michigan Professional Volleyball Association), where she achieved a No. 13 personal ranking as a player on tour. In high school, she was an All-Region and All-Conference player at Brighton High School.

Volleyball has played a big part in Stephanie's life, but also the lives of her family members. Stephanie's brother David Jandasek, was an All-American setter for the men's volleyball team at Ohio State University and played professionally overseas. Her father Joe still competes in open events around the country, and has won many individual and team awards past his 60th birthday. Chris and Steph, as they are known to their players, are the proud parents of seven-year-old Brooklynn.

Rick Langston, Assistant Volleyball Coach

Rick Langston is entering his seventh season as assistant coach of the Chargers. Langston is a day-to-day presence at Charger matches and practices. He works diligently on keeping drills on task in practice. When it comes to match times, Langston sets up and organizes unique stat-keeping and video programs that assist Chris and Stephanie with evaluating players' performances. Langston played golf at Olivet College, where he was a Division III All-American. He resides in Jonesville with his wife Johncie and children Drew, 8, and Lauren, 4.