Former University of South Florida standout Michelle Collier wasnamed as the eighth head coach of the Dolphins volleyball programin January 2012. She will also head up JU’s sand volleyballprogram.
Collier comes to JU after spending the 2010 and 2011 seasons asan assistant coach at South Carolina.
In 2011, Collier helped the Gamecocks to a seven-win improvementwhich ranked as second-best jump in school history. The Gamecocksimproved in nearly every category, including posting a hittingpercentage 45 points better than in 2010. She also helped PaigeWheeler finish third in digs (4.57) in the Southeastern Conference,while Juliette Thévenin was fourth in kills pet set at3.65.
In 2010, Collier was instrumental in coaching Thévenin tothe SEC all-freshman team. Thévenin led the Gamecocks inboth kills and aces, the third rookie ever and fifth freshman tolead South Carolina in kills. Thévenin ranked in the top 10in the SEC in both kills and points per set, and she finishedsecond on the team in hitting percentage.
Prior to South Carolina, Collier spent two seasons as anassistant at USF where she was responsible for the outside hittersand headed up international recruiting. She helped the Bulls tofinishes in the top half of the deep BIG EAST Conference each year,while the squad raised their RPI mark by 100 points.
As a player, Collier ranks among the greatest players evercollegiately. She ranks fifth in NCAA Division I history with 2,729career kills and sits in the Bulls' top-10 in numerous career andsingle-season categories. She holds the top spot in USF history intwo career categories (kills and digs, 1,747) and set threesingle-season marks during an amazing 2000 season. After comingback from an injury that forced her to the sidelines in 1999,Collier compiled 760 kills, 1,873 attacks and 6.28 kills perset.
A two-time Conference USA Player of the Year and 2002All-American, she claimed the league's Player of the Decade in2004. She also claimed the C-USA Freshman of the Year plaque in1998 and led her school to three of the program's seven NCAATournament appearances. USF went 120-48 during her three years,claiming two C-USA titles and one C-USA tournament crown during herfour playing years. Collier is the only volleyball player in USFhistory to have her jersey retired. She joined the USF Hall of Famein its third class announced in 2011, the first Bulls volleyballplayer to earn that honor.
Before coaching, Collier played professional volleyball for fouryears in a global tour that took her to Cyprus, Indonesia, PuertoRico, Spain and The Netherlands. Among the many accolades that sheaccumulated include the Indonesian League MVP and Cyprus' BestForeign Player.
Fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese, Collier graduatedfrom USF in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in web design andinternational relations.
Collier is married to Rafael Silva, who played for nine years inthe top divisions of both Brazil and Spain. The couple has onedaughter, Tais Collier Silva.
Collier's Coaching Timeline
Spring 2011 - current - Head coach, Jacksonville University
2010-2011 - Assistant coach, South Carolina
2008-2009 - Assistant coach, USF
2007-2010 - Head coach, Tampa Bay Juniors Volleyball Club
1999-2002 - Head Coach Tampa Bay Juniors Volleyball Club
Collier's Playing Timeline
1998-2002 - University of South Florida
2003-2006 - Professional volleyball in Spain, Netherlands, Cyprus,Indonesia and Puerto Rico
Collier's Education Timeline
2002, B.A., Interdisciplinary social sciences, University of SouthFlorida
