Head Volleyball Coach Steve Sykes Resigns at Southern Miss
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Southern Miss Director of Athletics Richard Giannini announced

the resignation of head volleyball coach Steve Sykes, today, effective at the conclusion of the

season. Sykes, who has been a part of the volleyball program for the past eight years, is

stepping down to pursue outside interests.

"Athletics will always be in my blood," Sykes said. "Prior to being in volleyball, my background

was in computers. That could possibly be my next vocation that I will pursue. This is a very

comfortable decision for me. I believe the program is in great shape. We are young this year,

but the future looks really bright. The four years as head coach at my alma mater was a great

accomplishment. I will cherish that time forever. To be able to coach at your alma mater is the

greatest. I have been very fortunate and the people have been very nice here.

"We appreciate the hard work and dedication Steve has provided our women's volleyball

program for the last eight years," Giannini said. "He has worked very hard, and we hate to see

him leave, but we wish him all the best in his future endeavors."

Associate Athletic Director for Olympic Sports and SWA Sonya Varnell said, "I just want to

thank Steve for the years he has put in. I know how much he loves Southern Miss. He loves

Hattiesburg, and he loves volleyball. This was a very hard decision for him to make, and he has

been torn with this decision to step down. I am very thankful to him, because he has provided

the nucleus for the future of Southern Miss volleyball. We have some very talented players,

and I going to make sure we get a coach that can build on that."

Prior to assuming the head coaching job in 1997, the Lady Eagle volleyball program had

produced only two winning seasons in its last 20 years. In his first season as head coach, Sykes

led the Lady Eagles to a 19-16 record overall and an 8-8 mark in Conference USA. His most

successful season came in 1998 when the Lady Eagles recorded the program's first win over a

top 25 opponent and finished the season with a 21-10 record. During that time, the volleyball

team received its first ranking in the top 10 in District VI. Sykes produced the program's first

all-conference first-team performer (Tosha Barnicoat) since 1988.

"First, let me say how sad it is that he is leaving," Kelly Tribble said. "Sometimes change is

good and sometimes change is bad. I am hopeful that this team can come together and work

hard and put together some wins toward the end of the season. I think it's important that we

get a couple of wins for coach with him going out. I speak on behalf of the team when I say we

wish him all the best of luck in whatever he does. I hope he sticks around here so we can see

him every now and then. I was in his first recruiting class, and I've been with him for three

seasons. It is going to be a hard adjustment not having him here. Coach Sykes is a really great

guy."

Sykes squad has also earned a reputation as the most academically successful program in

Southern Miss athletics. For the past two seasons, the volleyball team has earned the highest

team GPA among the athletic teams.

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