Bio

Stew McDole enters his 43rd year of coaching at Graceland University and his 36th season as the head coach of the Yellowjackets women's volleyball program. With a remarkable 912-490 career record, McDole has built one of the most consistent and respected programs in the NAIA. Under his leadership, Graceland has recorded 24 consecutive seasons with 20 or more wins and made postseason appearances in 34 of his 35 completed seasons at the helm.

During his tenure, McDole has guided the Yellowjackets to 19 Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) regular-season, pre-season, or post-season titles and has been named HAAC Coach of the Year an impressive 12 times. He celebrated his 800th career win in 2010 with a victory over Clarke University on October 2.

McDole’s commitment to academic excellence is equally strong. Graceland has produced 24 All-America selections and 58 NAIA All-America Scholar-Athletes under his direction. His 2010 through 2015 teams earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award for maintaining a team GPA above 3.30.

A 1965 graduate of Graceland University, McDole went on to earn both a master’s and a doctorate in Leisure Services Administration from Indiana University-Bloomington. He teaches core courses in the Leisure Services Administration major within the Division of Health and Movement Sciences and previously served a seven-year term as academic chair of the former Division of Health and Education. He also served two years as Graceland’s Director of Athletics and chaired the Board of Governors for the HAAC during that time.

McDole has received numerous accolades throughout his distinguished career. He was inducted into the Graceland Athletics Hall of Fame in 2007 and the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1986. In 2005, he received USA Volleyball’s highest honor, the Dr. Harold T. Friermood “Frier” Award. He previously served 15 years as an elected officer with USA Volleyball, including four years as executive vice president and 10 years as a board member. He was awarded the George J. Fisher Leader in Volleyball Award in 1978.

At the national level, McDole has served the NAIA for decades—27 years as a national rater (including two terms as national rating chair), 10 years as Region V volleyball chair, and 14 years as an officer in the NAIA Volleyball Coaches Association (twice as president). He continues to chair the NAIA national recognition committee, annually participating in All-America, Player of the Year, and Coach of the Year selections. He has also been an integral figure at the NAIA National Volleyball Championships, serving on the tournament committee 20 times and chairing the event on 12 occasions.

McDole served 18 years on the Board of Directors for the AVCA as the NAIA representative and was a member of the AVCA Executive Committee. He received the AVCA Founders Award in 1997 and was featured on the cover of Coaching Volleyball, the AVCA Journal, in February 1990. In 2003, he was inducted into the inaugural AVCA Hall of Fame class.

Stew and his wife, Patty—now retired and a devoted supporter of Graceland volleyball—are proud parents of three Graceland graduates: Mica, Chad, and Corey. They are also the grandparents of eight: Mica has two children, Chad has three, and Corey has three.