Midland Lutheran College today hired Paul Giesselmann to take over as Head Volleyball Coach, effective June 1. Giesselmann will join the Midland Warriors from Creighton University where he has been coaching volleyball since 2003.
Midland's Athletic Director, Keith Kramme, said, "We couldn't be more excited to have Paul joining our staff at Midland. He brings with him a wealth of experience and success. His career-to-date coaching record of 227-80 speaks for itself. There is no question that his experience from his time at College of St. Mary and then at Creighton will be a tremendous addition to the Midland volleyball program and to the entire Midland community."
Midland President, Dr. Ben Sasse, said, "As a former college athlete, I know what a positive impact the teamwork and healthy competition that go with athletics can have on a college student. At Midland, we are beginning to upgrade many of our athletics offerings, and we're very excited to welcome Paul aboard to help lead us to victory on the volleyball court."
Most recently, Giesselmann served as Creighton's recruiting coordinator while also organizing all fundraising efforts, including the annual golf outing. With his recommendations, Creighton offered and signed the top prep players in Nebraska and the Midwest to complete eight top-notch recruiting classes. Creighton's seven selections to the MVC All-Freshman Team in the last seven years are tied for second-most leaguewide, and the Jays became one of two schools in league history with multiple All-Freshman team picks in consecutive seasons (2004 and 2005).
Prior to his service at Creighton, Giesselmann was Head Coach at College of St. Mary from 1994-2001. There he earned NAIA National Coach of the Year honors in 2000 and Region Coach of the Year accolades in 1996, 1999, 2000 and 2001. He also claimed Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year honors in seven straight seasons from 1995-2001. As the College of St. Mary's all-time winningest coach, Giesselmann led the Flames to a number-two national ranking in 2001 and four national tournament appearances finishing in the NAIA Elite Eight twice and the NAIA Final Four in 2000. He was also named the Omaha World-Herald Nebraska State College Women's Coach of the Year in 1999, and Giesselmann earned two regional championships, six consecutive MCAC championships and seven consecutive MCAC tournament titles.
Giesselmann has coached 11 Academic All-Americans, 12 All-Americans, 21 All-Region players, 33 All-MCAC athletes, three Region of the Year players, five MCAC Player of the Year athletes and has had five players named to the NAIA National Championship All-Tournament Team. In addition to his teams' success on the court, all seven of Giesselmann's squads at CSM earned American Volleyball Coaches Association National Team Academic Awards, from 1994-2001. He also received the Omaha Sportscasters Recognition Award in 1996 and 2000.
Giesselmann earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education with an Endorsement in Health and Physical Education K-12 and an Endorsement in Coaching at Wayne State College in 1988, and has been coaching volleyball since 1992. Giesselmann and his family live in Fremont.
Midland Lutheran College currently offers 16 sport programs (8 men/8 women), and competes in the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) and the GPAC (Great Plains Athletic Conference).
