Western Wayne Today

Wayne State University has announced the promotion of Hailey Richardson to Associate Head Coach for its volleyball team. This decision was made by head coach Tim Koth, who acknowledged Richardson's longstanding commitment and contributions to the program.

"As one of our own and an outstanding Warrior during her playing time, Hailey between playing, part-time coaching, and then full-time coaching has been a part of WSU athletics and Warrior volleyball for 10 years," stated Koth. He praised her dedication and growth in both administrative and technical aspects of coaching. Koth also highlighted her role as recruiting coordinator as a factor in this well-deserved promotion.

Richardson has been with the volleyball coaching staff for six years, three of which were as a full-time assistant. Her journey began in 2019 when she helped lead the Warriors to 17 victories and a spot in the GLIAC semifinals. By 2021, Wayne State had reached the NCAA Tournament for only the third time in its history, achieving their first appearance since 1994 with 20 wins that season.

In subsequent years, Richardson continued to contribute significantly to the team's success. In 2022, Wayne State secured 19 wins and saw Kayla Giroux named AVCA Midwest Region Freshman of the Year. The following year featured two all-conference performers: Kayla Giroux on First Team All-GLIAC and freshman setter Kayla Dulgar earning Honorable Mention All-GLIAC honors.

The momentum carried into 2024 when WSU hosted a home court GLIAC Tournament game with four players receiving All-GLIAC selections: First Team honoree Kayla Giroux; Second Team members Kayla Dulgar and Molly Miller; and Honorable Mention Kendyl Andrews.

Richardson's impressive career at Wayne State includes being a three-time All-GLIAC honoree as a player from which she graduated in 2019 with a degree in Kinesiology. She ranks among program leaders in several statistical categories including total attacks, kills, digs, and aces.