Saint Mary''s College

Denise Van De Walle, was named the Head Coach of the Saint Mary’s Volleyball program in 2015, moves into her 10th season at the helm of the Belles. The Belles are 99-132 during her tenure, including four postseason appearances and three MIAA Semi-Final appearances. She has coached 12 All-MIAA honorees including four All-MIAA First Team Members.

In her tenth season, the Belles finished with a 10-13 overall record, 2-6 MIAA record, finishing seventh in the conference and ended the season with back-to-back shutouts of Albion and Olivet. She would coach Caroline Carens to the All-MIAA Second Team.

In her ninth season, the Belles would finish with a 6-14 overall record, 1-7 MIAA record, finishing tied for eighth in the conference.

In her eighth season, the Belles would finish with a 5-19 overall record, 1-7 MIAA record, finishing tied for seventh in the conference. She would coach Colleen McCarthy to her second straight All-MIAA Second Team honor.

In her seventh season, the Belles would finish the season with a 7-15 overall record, 2-6 MIAA record, and finished tied for sixth. The Belles would make it to the MIAA Tournament as they fell to Albion in the first round. She would coach Colleen McCarthy to the All-MIAA Second Team.

The Belles did not compete during the 2020 season due to COVID-19.

In her fifth season, the Belles would finish the season with a 13-16 overall record, 3-5 MIAA record, and finished sixth in the conference. They would fall to Trine in the first round of the MIAA Tournament. She coached Megan Collantes and Nicole Lukens to the All-MIAA Second Team.

In her fourth season, the Belles finished with a 12-18 overall record, 2-6 MIAA record, and finished tied for sixth in the conference, missing the postseason off tiebreakers. She would coach Audrey Shannon to her second straight All-MIAA Second Team.

In her third season, the Belles recorded their most wins in a season under Van De Walle as they finished with an overall record of 16-10, 10-6 MIAA record, finishing third in the conference but falling to Hope in the semi-finals for the third straight year. She would coach Rachel Bonek and Marielle Corbett to the All-MIAA First Team and Audrey Shannon to the All-MIAA Second Team.

In her second season, the Belles finished with an overall record of 15-14, 11-5 MIAA record, and finished third in the conference but fell to Hope in the MIAA Semi-Finals. She would coach Meaghan Gibbons to the All-MIAA First Team and Kaylin Szucs to the All-MIAA Second Team.

In her first season, the Belles finished with a 15-13 overall record, 7-9 MIAA record, and finished sixth in the conference and would fall to Hope in the MIAA Semi-Finals. In her first year, she coached Katie Hecklinski to the All-MIAA First Team.

Van De Walle spent 29 years as the Head Volleyball Coach at NCAA Division I Bowling Green State University where she amassed an impressive record of 527-378. She led the Falcons to three MAC Championships (1989, 1991, 1992) and two MAC Eastern Division Championships (2000, 2001) while also leading them to their first NCAA tournament appearance in program history (1991). She also led the Falcons to 19 winning seasons while earning four MAC Coach of the Year Honors. She coached three MAC Players of the Year and 23 All-MAC First or Second Team honorees.

Van De Walle also spent time as an Assistant Coach early in her career at Ball State University and Cal Polytechnic University and served time as a Volunteer Assistant Coach at the University of Notre Dame before coming to Saint Mary’s. She also served as an Assistant Coach on the USA Women’s National Sitting Volleyball team, winning a bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games and a silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games.

Van De Walle is a graduate of Ball State where she earned both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts degrees in Elementary Education. She was a four-year letter winner for the Cardinals where she was a part of a record-setting squad which still holds the program record for wins in a season (35).

Van De Walle Through the Years