Mizzou Athletics Announces Extension for Head Volleyball Coach Dawn Sullivan
12/1/2025 1:00:00 PM | Volleyball
Sullivan agrees to contract extension through 2029 season.
Mizzou volleyball head coach Dawn Sullivan, who led the Tigers to an NCAA Round of 16 appearance in 2024, has signed a contract extension through the 2029 season - with the first season of the contract being the 2025 season - Mizzou Athletics announced Monday.
"The University of Missouri is a special place, and I'm beyond grateful for the opportunity to lead this program," Sullivan said. "In the past three seasons, we've built a strong foundation. I'm fired up to continue pushing this program to the next level together."
Since becoming Mizzou's head coach in December 2022, Sullivan has reenergized the program into a constant force within the SEC. During her first three seasons with the Tigers, Mizzou is 57-33 (.633) and has reached the NCAA Tournament in two of her three seasons at the helm.
In her first season with the Tigers, Sullivan completely changed the dynamics of the volleyball program, as MU improved from nine wins the year before to 18 wins and an NCAA Tournament appearance. Her debut season was capped off by the SEC Coach of the Year award – third in program history and first since Wayne Kreklow in 2016.
Sullivan once again defied expectations in 2024, as she earned AVCA Coach of the Year honors and put the Tigers in the NCAA Sweet 16 for the fifth time in school history. The Tigers made their national presence felt that season, taking down both No. 9 Texas and No. 10 SMU on the road.
In the latest season, the Tigers once again proved that they are a force by taking down No. 16 Tennessee on Halloween night in Knoxville, Tenn. With 17 wins during 2025, Sullivan is the fourth coach in program history to win 15+ matches each year in her first three seasons at the helm.
"Coach Sullivan has demonstrated that she is the right leader for our volleyball program," Mizzou Director of Athletics Laird Veatch said. "Under her direction, the trajectory of this program continues to point upward. We believe the foundation she's established will position Mizzou Volleyball to compete for championships in the years ahead."
Since arriving at Mizzou after five years with UNLV, Sullivan has coached five players who have earned eight All-SEC honors. Included in that tally is senior Maya Sands, who is a three-time SEC Libero of the Year. Sullivan's players have earned AVCA Southeast All-Region honors six times. She has also coached three All-Americans during her time with Mizzou.
Mizzou has once again made Hearnes Center a premier destination for collegiate volleyball, as the Tigers are 26-9 on their home court under Sullivan. That success has translated to national attention, as Mizzou hosted its first-ever ESPN broadcast against No. 5 Stanford on Sept. 9.
The Tigers have been in the top 35 in average attendance every year since Sullivan's arrival, with their largest average coming in 2024 with 3,122. Against Florida (Nov. 15, 2024), Mizzou boasted its most attended match since 2016 with 6,379.
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