Submitted by St. Joseph Catholic Academy
BALLSBURG — The St. Joseph Catholic Academy administration and board of directors recently announced the hiring of Todd McPherson as the new head coach of the SJCA women's volleyball team.
He began coaching volleyball at Windsor High School in New York in 1984, leading the boys volleyball team to the sectional semifinals in his first year. In 1985, he took a teaching position at State College High School and started the school's men's volleyball program.
Launched in 1987, the SCASH men's team ranked in the top 20 in Pennsylvania and won three PIAA district championships from 1991-1993. In 1988 McPherson started as an assistant for the SCAHS girls volleyball team and in 1999 was named head coach. The women's volleyball team won the PIAA regional championship in 2001.
“I believe it was divine intervention that brought me to St. Joe’s in the summer of 2023,” McPherson said. “God has given me the opportunity to use my talents to help students.”
In addition to being the SJCA women's volleyball head coach, McPherson is also a chemistry teacher at St. Joseph's University.
“Being a teacher at the school and seeing the players every day will allow me to connect with each player and help them grow as people and volleyball players,” McPherson said.
“My goals are simple: work hard and have fun, in that order,” he said. “I want to see the team and its members getting stronger and faster. But most of all, I want to see each player and the team grow every day and be better at the end of the season than they were at the beginning. I hope.
“Looking at league play, my goal is to make our team more competitive and make other teams think we are a challenging team to play against,” McPherson said.
McPherson is a founding and lifetime member of the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association and is a USA Volleyball Level 1 certified coach.
The SJCA athletic program offers competitive PIAA teams in cross country, women's volleyball, basketball, soccer, baseball, softball and track and field, competing in the Tri-Valley Athletic Association. For more information about the SJCA athletic program, visit stjoeacad.org or contact the school. [email protected].