Volleyball Names Craig Dyer as Assistant Coach

OMAHA, Neb. -- Craig Dyer has been named an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator with the Creighton Volleyball program, head coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth announced today. Dyer comes to Creighton after spending the previous two seasons as an assistant coach at Penn State.

"My family and I are very excited about this opportunity," said Dyer. "Throughout this process, it has been clear to me that Creighton Athletics is committed to Kirsten and the volleyball program. I am looking forward to joining the staff and helping the team to continue their perennial success in the BIG EAST conference as well as on the national stage."

Dyer served as an assistant coach the past two seasons at Penn State, during which time the Nittany Lions went 57-12 and shared a Big Ten title in 2017. PSU reached the National Semifinals in 2017 after being Regional Semifinalists in 2016. Dyer assisted with all recruiting activities in addition to video analysis and scouting report preparation of all opponents.

Dyer served as the program's defensive coordinator in 2016 and worked primarily with PSU's outside hitters in 2017. He trained a pair of All-Americans on the outside in 2017, including Big Ten Player of the Year Simone Lee.

"I think this is a home-run hire," said Booth. "Craig has been part of building two programs at Marquette and Pittsburgh, and then one of the perennial powers in the country at Penn State. Everyone that I talked to that he's worked with just rave about him as a coach, as a recruiter and most importantly as a person. We're excited not only for Craig to arrive, but also his two little boys and his wife Jen who is a former volleyball player. This is a family that loves volleyball and we're excited to have them in Omaha at Creighton."

While at Pitt from 2013-16, Dyer served as the Panthers' assistant and associate head coach, as well as recruiting coordinator, while also working primarily with the setters and the offense. Dyer was voted among the Top 10 Women's Assistant Coaches in the collegiate game in a 2015 VolleyballMag.com poll while he was at Pitt.

Prior to Pitt, he was an assistant coach at Marquette University from 2009-12. During his tenure with the Golden Eagles, he helped Marquette to a 92-39 record, increasing single-season records for program wins from 2010-12. Dyer also guided Marquette to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2011-12, mentoring a trio of AVCA All-Americans along the way.

During Dyer's first tenure at Penn State from 2006-09, he helped lead the Nittany Lion men's team to an NCAA national championship title in 2008, as well as consecutive EIVA conference titles in each year. The Nittany Lions posted a 66-10 record during Dyer's time at Penn State, with seven Nittany Lions garnering AVCA All-America distinction.

Dyer also made stops as an assistant coach at Seton Hall (2002-04) and Rutgers (2002-04) after serving as a head coach at with the men's program at Susquehanna University (2000-02). Dyer earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in music education from Susquehanna University in 1995.

Outside of the collegiate game, Dyer spent time as an assistant coach for the 2008 Men's Junior National Team. The 2008 squad earned a bronze medal at the NORCECA World Championship Qualifier to earn a spot in the 2009 Junior World Championships. He also served as a training coach from 2006-07 and served as head coach of the Boys A2 Training Camp in 2007.

Dyer joins Angie Oxley Behrens on Booth's staff at Creighton. He replaces Ryan Meek, who last month was named head coach at High Point University. The Bluejays have advanced to six consecutive NCAA Tournaments and have won four straight BIG EAST regular-season and tournament titles.

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