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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Photo courtesy FIU Media Relations
Danijela Tomic Tabbed To Lead BGSU Volleyball Program
December 19, 2011 | Volleyball
Complete Danijela Tomic Press Release (.pdf)
“We are thrilled to welcome Danijela to the BGSU Athletics team,” Director of Athletics Greg Christopher said. “Throughout the research process, Danijela's name was brought up by everyone in volleyball circles. Those positive reviews played out in the interviews as well. Danijela's passion, vision and commitment to excellence are evident to anyone who spends time with her. Not only will Danijela help elevate Bowling Green volleyball, but she will help make our entire department better.”
A 1999 graduate of Arkansas-Little Rock, Tomic was named Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year in 2006, 2008, and 2009, guiding the Panthers to the NCAA Tournament in each of those last two seasons. The 2009 team set a program record by going 32-4, which included a 17-0 mark in conference play.
Tomic took over at FIU in 2005 and made an immediate impact as her team improved by 12 wins over the previous season and reached the SBC Tournament as the No. 6 seed after missing out in two of the previous three years.
“I am honored and privileged to have this opportunity to lead the Falcon volleyball program,” Tomic said. “I feel very fortunate to be a part of the BGSU family. I want to thank Greg Christopher and Lesley Irvine for giving me this opportunity and for supporting my vision for the future of the program.”
In seven years at FIU, her players have earned six AVCA All-American awards, two Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year honors, and 24 All-Sun Belt Conference awards. Under her tutelage, one athlete was named AVCA South Region Freshman of the Year. Her .721 career winning percentage ranks as one of the 20 best among active NCAA Division I coaches.
Tomic also demands well-rounded student-athletes as her team earned the Dr. Paul D. Gallagher Community Service Award in 2008, presented to the FIU team that has gone the extra mile in performing community service throughout the year. She has had 20 selections to the Sun Belt Conference Commissioner's List (grade point average of 3.5 or better) and 27 selections to the Sun Belt Conference Academic Honor Roll.
Prior to her time at FIU, Tomic was an assistant coach at LSU during the 2003 and 2004 seasons. Before that, she spent six years as an assistant coach at UALR from 1997-03. She played at UALR from 1995-97 as an outside hitter, right side hitter, and setter, helping to lead the team to the 1996 NCAA Tournament. She was named Most Valuable Player of the SBC Tournament that year and recorded a tournament record 32 digs during the championship match in 1996.
“We are thrilled that Danijela has chosen to become our next head women's volleyball coach,” Irvine, the Associate Athletics Director who oversaw the search, said. “She is a tremendous talent. Her vision, proven ability, experience and passion will ensure that the future of BGSU volleyball is in exciting and capable hands. Danijela is an extremely high-caliber coach and we are both proud and excited to introduce her to the BGSU community.”
Tomic replaces Denise Van De Walle at Bowling Green, who served 29 years as the Falcons' head coach before announcing her retirement. Van De Walle is the winningest coach in Mid-American Conference history, posting a 527-378 career mark and earning four MAC Coach of the Year awards.
A native of Catici, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Tomic graduated from UALR in 1999 with a degree in health education.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT DANIJELA TOMIC
"Danijela Tomic made a great impact in the Sun Belt Conference. She came into FIU and significantly improved their program. Her teams were fundamentally sound and played with great intensity. She is a bright young coach with a passion to succeed. I had the great pleasure of working with her on the South's Regional Advisory Committee and quickly learned that she is a dedicated coach willing to work hard to excel. I think she will be a great addition to Bowling Green and I look forward to seeing her team compete." --- Diane Turnham, Chair of the NCAA Division I Volleyball Committee.
"Danijela Tomic is what every school looks for in a new hire: a skilled, energetic coach with a track record of success every places she has worked. She is a fine choice by BGSU." --- Kathy Deboer, Executive Director of the American Volleyball Coaches Association
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