Melissa Bartlett has been named head coach of the Mustangs women’s volleyball program. She takes over for David Edwards, who announced his retirement last month.
“I am thrilled to be bringing my passion and knowledge of the game of volleyball to the next chapter of Mustangs Volleyball history,” Bartlett said. “It truly is an honour to be joining a school so rich in academic and athletic success. Having two Western Alumni as parents I have known from a young age about the excellence that is associated with the university. I could not be prouder to be joining that great tradition.”
Her father Randy Bartlett played for the Mustangs men’s volleyball team from 1975-79, including captaining the 1979 team that won the OUA Championship.
Bartlett spent the past two seasons as the head coach of the Team Ontario Under-18 women’s program. In addition to her time with Team Ontario, she has also spent the past three seasons as both a head and assistant coach at Chatham Kent Secondary School and the Chatham Ballhawks club programs.
“Melissa brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as a player and coach to our Mustang Women’s Volleyball program,” said Therese Quigley, Sport and Recreation Services director. “She is a highly respected coach and an inspiring leader who has a reputation of being a game changer.”
Bartlett was a standout player from the local level up to national and professional competition. A member of the Canadian Youth National Team in 2002 and the Canadian Junior National Team in 2003 and 2004, Bartlett went south of the border for her university career, playing for Eastern Michigan in 2004 and 2005 earning a Second Team All-Conference Award in the Mid-American Conference, part of NCAA Division I.
She continued at Hillsdale College in NCAA Division II, being named a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (GLIAC) First Team All-Conference player in 2006 and 2007 as well as the 2007 GLIAC Conference Player of the Year. She also received the 2007 GLIAC Commissioners Award for Outstanding Student-Athlete as well as being named a 2007 NCAA and Daktronics First Team All-American.
Following her university career Bartlett joined the professional ranks in Spain playing for the Algar Surmenor Women’s Volleyball Team in Cartagena. Bartlett excelled once again, leading the league in scoring in the 2008-09 season.
Upon returning to Canada Bartlett focused on her teaching and coaching careers while still playing competitively. In 2012 she won the Volleyball Canada Nationals and was a tournament All-Star.
Holding a bachelor’s degree from Hillsdale College and a teaching certificate, Bartlett currently teaches in the Lambton Kent District School Board covering a variety of subjects and grade levels.