Ashlee Crowder was named the head coach of the Florida Tech volleyball program in August 2021 and enters her second season at the helm of the program in 2022.
Crowder joined the Panther family from Florida Southern College where she served as assistant coach of the Moccasins since February 2018. In her first season at FSC in 2018, Crowder helped guide the Mocs to a 22-11 record, including a 13-7 mark in the Sunshine State Conference, and an NCAA Tournament appearance. Included in her duties as assistant coach at Florida Southern, Crowder served as the recruiting coordinator for the program and managed the team’s summer camp activities.
Prior to her time at Florida Southern, Crowder was the assistant volleyball coach at the University of Indianapolis from April 2016 to February 2018. Similar to her role at FSC, Crowder served as the recruiting and summer camp coordinator at UIndy. The Greyhounds earned a record of 28-35 over her two seasons in Indianapolis. Crowder helped coach freshman Olivia Martin, who came four digs shy of breaking the program record with most digs by a rookie in 2017. She also played a major role in the development of several key contributors, including many underclassmen like Anna Fehribach and Rachel Irbe, who led the team in kills.
Before heading to Indianapolis, Crowder spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Grand Valley State, where she helped the Lakers advance to two consecutive NCAA Tournaments. She was on the coaching staff in 2014 when GVSU went 27-6 overall, captured the Midwest Region Championship by sweeping all three opponents, and advanced to the NCAA Final Four in Louisville, Kentucky.
Crowder has had success on the club volleyball circuit as well, leading the Michigan Volleyball Academy, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to a pair of nearly undefeated seasons in 2012-13 (15-1) and 2015-16 (13-1). Additionally, she coached the Dead Frog Far Out Volleyball team in 2013-14, Team Indiana in 2016-17 and most recently served as Assistant Club Director of the Southern Select Volleyball Club from February 2018 to March 2020.
An outside hitter herself, Crowder had a very decorated playing career at Hillsdale College. She is Hillsdale’s career leader in kills (1,703) and her 491 kills in 2009 are the third-highest single-season total in Charger history. Crowder was twice named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Player of the Year in 2010 and 2011 as well as the Daktronics Midwest Region Player of the Year in 2011. Additionally, she was a three-time AVCA All-American, including consecutive First Team All-America honors in 2010 and 2011. In 2018, Crowder was inducted in the Hillsdale College Athletics Hall of Fame.
A 2012 graduate of Hillsdale, Crowder earned her degree in physical education. She is also currently finishing her master's degree in special education from Grand Valley State.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING.
Jill Stephens, Associate Athletic Director/Senior Women’s Administrator – Florida Southern College
“I believe this is a brilliant hire for Florida Tech and a wonderful opportunity for Ashlee. She is well prepared, extremely competitive and passionate about her student-athletes. Her knowledge of the league coupled with her relentless pursuit of excellence will prove to be an asset for Florida Tech.”
Jason Reed, Head Volleyball Coach – University of Indianapolis
“Florida Tech has added a special leader to their volleyball program. Ashlee will invest in the relationships of her athletes and work tirelessly to build a program that will compete in one of the best conferences in the country. I’m excited for her to take on her own program and build something amazing.”
Chris Gravel, Head Volleyball Coach – Hillsdale College
“I’ve seen Ashlee inspire individuals as a player, teammate, camp counselor, and as an assistant coach. I’m excited to see her successes as a head coach.”
