McNicholas hires Darlene Tierney as new Girls’ Volleyball Head Coach

The McNicholas Athletic Department is excited to announce the hiring of Darlene Tierney as the Girls’ Volleyball Head Coach.

Coach Tierney has extensive volleyball coaching experience that spans 27 years across various levels and a number of successful programs. After a successful career as a player at Xavier University, Coach Tierney began her coaching journey at the club level in 1996. From 1999 to 2003, Coach Tierney coached at Ursuline Academy where she helped lead the Lions to a state championship and state runner-up finishes in three of the four seasons. She has also been heavily-involved in the Northern Kentucky Youth Volleyball Club (NKYVC); she currently coaches the 18s.

Before her career as a Musketeer, Coach Tierney was a volleyball stand-out for Kentucky powerhouse Notre Dame Academy where she was a two-time state champion, a state runner-up, and was Northern Kentucky’s Most Outstanding Volleyball Player her senior year.

Coach Tierney serves her community as a Cardiology Nurse Practitioner for Christ Hospital Women’s Heart Center and, for the last seven years, has been director of the girls and boys volleyball programs at Guardian Angels School. In the past 11 years, she has coached every level at GA at least once. Coach Tierney is married to McNicholas alum Phil Tierney ’90 and is the mother of current freshman Carson.

“There is nothing that compares in my life to the experience of sporting competition, camaraderie of being on a team, the hard work and discipline required to succeed, the highs of being a champion and the grace needed in defeat,” Coach Tierney said. “These lessons have translated to every aspect of my life. I feel it is my privilege to return the favor to our youth. I believe sports should be a positive, fun experience. At the same time, players learn that hard work and discipline translate to successful outcomes.  I care for and view my players as people that will someday shape our world from their personal experiences - I will strive to make their experience a positive one here at McNicholas!"

Director of Athletics Drew Schmidt said, “Darlene is an electric hire for our girls and the volleyball program. Her experience as a coach, and also as a player who understands what it takes to play at high levels, speaks for itself,” Director of Athletics Drew Schmidt said. “We are getting an absolutely dynamic leader for our school. What Darlene can bring to our volleyball program is one thing, but what she can provide our kids and our department off the court is what makes this hire that much sweeter. McNicholas got better today!”

Please join McNicholas High School in welcoming Coach Tierney to Rocket Nation!