CNY native named women’s volleyball coach at SUNY Plattsburgh

Marcellus alum Eimile O’Brien was named the new head coach of the Plattsburgh State women’s volleyball team on Wednesday, the college said.

After high school, O’Brien spent four years playing at Buffalo State.

With the Bengals, O’Brien was a team captain for three seasons and tallied 689 kills in her career.

O’Brien previously coached the Niagara County Volleyball Club U16 team before working as an assistant with Buffalo State for the 2023 season.

She helped the Bengals to a 16-12 overall record and 5-4 conference record. The team also had its best finish since the 2014 season.

“We are extremely fortunate to be welcoming Eimile to Cardinal Country as our Head Women’s Volleyball coach,” said Plattsburgh director of intercollegiate athletics and recreation Mike Howard in a news release. “Her experience both as a player and a coach within the SUNYAC as well as her demonstrated leadership across a number of areas in college athletics is most impressive. It was very clear during the interview process that she was the ideal candidate to lead our program as we look to continue the rise of Cardinal volleyball.”

O’Brien replaces Kelsea Healis who coached Plattsburgh for the last three seasons. The Cardinals were 29-44 under Healis.

“I am incredibly excited to step in as head coach,” O’Brien said in a news release. “This program has limitless potential and I look forward to building on the continuing success of the team.”

The Cardinals are coming off a 12-13 season where they made the playoffs for the first time in a decade.

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