Paul MacDonald, 43, is entering his 11th year as the head coach for the Francis Marion University women's volleyball program.
He owns a 213-196 career coaching mark in 13 seasons, including a 164-147 record in his 10 years at Francis Marion. In his time on the Patriot sidelines, his teams have produced 13 All-Conference selections.
Last year, the Patriots posted a 16-14 record, nearly doubling the win total from the previous season, while placing sixth during the PBC regular season. Two Patriots earned All-Conference recognition and two were placed on the PBC All-Academic squad. The program also garnered AVCA All-Academic Team recognition for the fourth time in seven seasons. FMU was one of only 19 programs nationwide to earn the honor while also reaching its Dig Pink fundraising goal.
In 2014, MacDonald's charges posted a 9-20 mark. The squad ranked 46th nationally in service aces per set (1.73) and 76th in total aces served (176), and two players were named to the PBC All-Academic Team.
In 2013, he directed FMU to a 21-9 overall record and the program's highest Peach Belt Conference win total (12-6 mark) in 15 seasons. The Patriots placed third during the PBC regular season and MacDonald was named the conference "Coach of the Year" for the second time. Three team members earned All-Conference honors (one All-Region selection) and three picked up PBC All-Academic Team recognition. FMU ranked among the top 45 percent of all Division II institutions in every one of the seven national team stats categories. Heading those accomplishments was the Patriots ranking 43rd nationally in service aces per set (1.74), 52nd in won-loss percentage (.700), and 87th in assists per set (11.66).
In 2012, MacDonald guided a relatively young Patriot squad to an 18-12 overall record. The Patriots earned a fourth-place finish in the Peach Belt standings and narrowly missed earning a bid to the NCAA Division II National Tournament. Four team members also earned PBC All-Academic Team recognition.
In 2011, the Patriots finished with a 12-18 record. Six team members earned Peach Belt Conference All-Academic Team recognition. Francis Marion earned an AVCA Team Academic Award (for the third straight year) -- one of only three PBC schools to gain that honor for 2011.
In 2010, FMU posted a 15-16 mark with a pair of Patriots earning All-Conference honors and two gaining PBC All-Academic recognition. The Patriot squad earned an AVCA Team Academic Award (for the second year in a row) -- one of only four PBC schools to gain that honor for 2010.
In 2008, MacDonald earned PBC "Coach of the Year" honors while guiding the Patriots to a 23-9 record and the program's third-ever NCAA Division II National Tournament invitation. FMU placed second during the PBC regular-season and advanced to the title match of the PBC Tournament.
In 2007, FMU was 13-21 and placed fourth during the Peach Belt regular season. In a very successful first campaign (2006), MacDonald guided the Patriots to a 26-8 record and a share of the Peach Belt Conference regular-season championship.
MacDonald came to FMU from Mount Mercy College, an NAIA school in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In three seasons directing the Mustang program, he compiled a 49-49 record, including a 25-11 mark in 2005 - the team's best record in more than a decade. Utilizing a roster that did not include any seniors, he also guided Mount Mercy to a second-place finish in the Midwest Classic Conference with a 6-1 record and to a spot in the NAIA Region VII Tournament for the first time since 2002. For that effort, he received conference "Coach of the Year" honors.
A native of Flat Rock, Mich., a suburb of Detroit, MacDonald earned a B.A. degree in business from Michigan State University and an M.Ed. degree in physical education from Wayne State University. He earned CAP I certification through the USA Volleyball Coaches' Accreditation Program in 2007.
Prior to accepting the position at Mount Mercy, he was an assistant coach at Division II Wayne State for the 2002 season, an assistant coach at Macomb County Community College for the 2001 campaign, and was an assistant and interim head coach during the 1999 season at Division I Oakland University.
MacDonald spent five years (2004-2008) with the USA National Olympic Development Program. He has five years of experience coaching at the high school level - including winning a district championship at Regina High School in Harper Woods, Mich. - and seven years of experience coaching at the Junior Olympics and club level. His Junior Olympic squads placed first in the state of Michigan in 1998 and third in 2002.
He is a member of the United States Volleyball Association and the American Volleyball Coaches Association. He has worked camps at the universities of Iowa, Michigan, and Wisconsin; Michigan State University; Stanford University, Purdue University; Eastern Michigan University; Mount Mercy; and at high schools in Michigan. He was a coach for the 2006 USA High Performance A2 Camp in Charlotte, N.C., the 2007 USA High Performance A2 Camp in Davidson, N.C., and the 2008 USA High Performance A2 Camp in Baltimore, Md.
He directs the FMU Patriot Volleyball Summer Camp programs and the Florence Juniors Volleyball Club.
MacDonald was married in the summer of 2012.
MacDonald is the 13th head coach in the 43-year history of the Francis Marion program. The program boasts a .552 winning percentage (804-652 all-time record).
(8-2016)
