Ashley Coyle is the Head Women’s Volleyball Coach at SUNY Oneonta Athletics, entering her 10th season leading the Red Dragons in 2026. Since taking over the program in March 2017, she has elevated Oneonta Volleyball into a consistent SUNYAC contender built on competitiveness, accountability, and a culture centered on growth, resilience, and connection.
Coyle guided the program through a breakout 2019 season, as Oneonta finished 23–9 overall, posted a .719 winning percentage—the highest since 1989—went 6–3 in SUNYAC play, and advanced to the SUNYAC Semifinals. The team went 8–2 at home in Alumni Field House and recorded the program’s highest win total in over a decade, establishing a new competitive standard.
Since that breakthrough, Oneonta has continued to develop into a deeper, more competitive SUNYAC program. The 2025 season reflected continued growth in performance and identity, with improvements in offensive efficiency, serving pressure, and defensive consistency. The team became more balanced and physically competitive, showing a stronger ability to extend rallies, compete in tight conference matches, and sustain a higher level of play throughout the season. Culturally, the group reinforced Oneonta’s identity as a high-energy, disciplined, and accountable program, with emerging leaders helping elevate daily standards and competitiveness.
Individual development has remained a cornerstone of Coyle’s tenure. Clara Culeton became one of the most accomplished players in program history, earning Honorable Mention All-American honors in 2019—the third All-American in program history and the first since 2004—along with All-Region recognition.
In 2025, Colleen McCabe earned All-SUNYAC Third Team honors, while Shea Landversicht and Emma Moretta were named CSC Academic All-District selections, continuing the program’s tradition of producing high-achieving student-athletes both athletically and academically.
Academically, Oneonta Volleyball has maintained a high standard of excellence under Coyle, earning multiple consecutive AVCA Team Academic Awards while consistently achieving strong team-wide academic performance. The program is recognized for its ability to compete at a high level while maintaining academic discipline and balance.
Before Oneonta, Coyle coached at the United States Coast Guard Academy and St. Lawrence University Athletics, where she helped develop All-Conference, All-Region, and All-American athletes while gaining NCAA Division I administrative experience supporting compliance operations for men’s and women’s ice hockey.
As a student-athlete at SUNY Cortland Athletics, Coyle competed in one of the most successful eras in program history, posting a career record of 140–27 (.838). She was a three-time AVCA All-American, three-time SUNYAC Champion, 2011 NCAA Regional Champion, SUNYAC East Player of the Year (two-time), and SUNYAC All-Tournament MVP. She played a key role in Cortland’s NCAA Elite Eight run in 2011 and finished her career ranked second in program history in kills (1,803) and fourth in digs (1,778).
Coyle earned her Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from SUNY Cortland and her Master of Education in Educational Leadership from St. Lawrence University. She was also a featured presenter at the 2023 AVCA Convention, where she delivered “Motherhood and Mayhem,” focused on leadership, coaching, and navigating motherhood within collegiate athletics.
More About Coach Coyle
Coaching Philosophy
“My coaching philosophy is simple: I care about my student-athletes in their lives and work with them to be the best version of themselves. I want to push them when they need to be pushed, support them when they need to be supported, and help them grow through every experience they encounter in their college years. I believe in creating a competitive environment grounded in discipline, skill execution, and high standards, while also recognizing that joy and connection are essential to performance. Competing is fun, and the best teams find a balance between focus, consistency, and genuinely enjoying the process together.”
Recruiting Philosophy
“I look for the right people to enhance our program—on the court and in the classroom. We want student-athletes who are committed to their own growth and to the team's success. Off the court, we value positivity, competitiveness, coachability, and resilience. Being a student-athlete is an honor, and we want players who are proud to wear ‘Oneonta’ because they understand what it represents: opportunity, standards, and high-level competition. I am drawn to athletes with a ‘refuse to lose’ mentality—players who fight for every point, respond well to adversity, and embrace the give-and-take nature of volleyball with focus and teamwork.”
Why Division III
“Division III means everything to me. It is where I developed as a student-athlete and learned the importance of balance in every part of life. At this level, athletics enhances your experience rather than defines it. What you do on the court connects directly to how you show up in the classroom, in relationships, and in everyday life. Division III supports you in being your best in all areas, not just one, and that philosophy is what makes it so meaningful.”
