(Story courtesy of Hendrix College)
CONWAY, Ark. - Ryan Meek has been hired by Hendrix College athletic director Danny Powell to take over the Warriors volleyball program. Meek replaces Mary Ann Schlientz, who retired from coaching after nine seasons with Hendrix.
Prior to joining the Warrior staff, Meek spent two seasons at
Missouri Southern State University in Joplin. He was the top
assistant for the Lions and was named interim head coach in
February 2011. While at MSSU, Meek helped the Lions to their first
regional ranking since 2006 and he coached four All-Mid-America
Intercollegiate Athletics Association players.
Meek served as a volunteer assistant for the University of Arkansas
in Fayetteville from January 2007-July 2008 where he coached on
All-Southeastern Conference selection and one All-SEC Freshman Team
performer.
From 2004-06, Meek was the head girl's varsity coach and assistant
boy's coach for Simi Valley High School in California. He led the
SVHS girls to three consecutive top five regional rankings and the
state playoffs for the first time in school history. The boy's
squad received a national ranking and Meek coached 10 future
collegiate players.
“Ryan has solid experience as both an assistant and a head
coach and we think he will relate very well with our
student-athletes,” said Powell. “He also has proven to
be an effective recruiter and we think he will attract great
student-athletes to our volleyball program.”
Meek was the starting setter for Quincy University in Illinois in
2003, where he led the Hawks in assists and finished third in the
league in assists per set. In 2002, Meek led Moorpark College and
the state of California in assists, while finishing second on the
team in digs. He also set the Moorpark single season assists
record.
Meek was a three-year letterman at opposite and outside hitter at
Simi Valley High. He led the team in kills and digs for two seasons
and helped SVHS to a top 10 national ranking as a senior in
2000.
Meek received his B.A. in Public Administration from Arkansas in
2008.
Schlientz has taken a teaching position at the University of
Central Arkansas.
“Mary Ann did a great job as our first full-time volleyball
coach,” Powell said. “She steadily moved our program to
competitiveness in the SCAC and she recruited and graduated
outstanding student-athletes. Her work as Senior Woman
Administrator and Assistant Athletic Director was crucial to our
Department’s continuing progression into NCAA Division III.
She will be missed by her colleagues but we wish her well in her
new appointment at UCA.”
