SEARCY – Harding University director of athletics Greg Harnden announced Wednesday the hiring of Meredith Rosenbaum Fear as the University's new head volleyball coach.
Fear, who played for Harding as a defensive specialist from 2004-07, returns to the Lady Bisons after spending two seasons as the head coach at York College in Nebraska.
After taking over a team who won six matches in 2009, Fear led York to 14 victories in 2010 and to 22 victories and an NCCAA Regional Tournament appearance in 2011.
“I am very excited about taking the reins of the Bison volleyball team this spring,” Fear said. “My husband and I lived in Searcy for six years while pursuing our undergraduate and graduate degrees, so in a way it feels like coming home.”
In her playing career at Harding, Fear earned All-Gulf South Conference honors twice and was named Daktronics All-South Region and Academic All-GSC as a senior. A two-year captain, she is Harding's career leader in digs per set (5.02), ranks second with 2,333 career digs and fourth with 121 service aces.
Fear graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in communications management and a minor in missions from Harding in 2008. Additionally, she earned her Master of Business Administration from the University in 2010.
Additionally, Fear spent two seasons as a graduate assistant with the Lady Bisons before moving on to York. She has also coached five years on the club circuit.
“Playing for Harding and serving as a graduate assistant for two additional years are some of my best memories and proudest moments,” Fear said. “A high standard has been set, both athletically and academically at Harding, and it's one that I intend to maintain and improve upon.
Greatest of all, I'm given the opportunity to integrate my faith with coaching. I care about the program and team's spiritual well-being more than anything else. It is an extreme blessing to be a part of an institution where I am able to share Christ and help grow my team spiritually, academically and athletically.”
Fear, a native of Avon, Ind., is married to Robert Fear, a 2008 Harding graduate.
