PITT BRADFORD'S PHILLIPS RESIGNS FROM VOLLEYBALL POST

Pitt-Bradford head volleyball coach Tina Phillips has made the decision to step down as head of the program. Longtime assistant Tom Roof will be assuming the duties as head coach.

Phillips steps down after 12 seasons at the helm of the program. She leaves with a 158-165 overall record, and a 68-42 record in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference. She is the winningest coach in the history of Pitt-Bradford volleyball.

“I have been fortunate enough to be the head coach of two highly competitive programs for the past 12 years,” said Phillips. “While it was a difficult decision, I feel it will only benefit the program to have a coach that can be fully invested in the team and the student-athletes. I look forward to Tom taking over and continuing to move the program forward.”

During her tenure, the Lady Panthers qualified for the AMCC Tournament in all 12 seasons. They made nine trips to the Final Four and three appearances in the Finals.

In 2010, Pitt-Bradford notched its first ever AMCC Championship and the automatic bid to the National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament. The 24 wins that season and 22-game win streak both set program records. That same season, Phillips was named the AMCC Coach of the Year. Under the tutelage of Phillips, Jackie Podrasky was named the 2010 AMCC Player of the Year and went on to become the program’s first All-American.

Phillips coached her second AMCC Player of the Year in 2014, Taylor McMillen. In 2009, the Lady Panthers made just their second appearance in the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament in program history.  In all, Phillips coached a total of 32 All-AMCC performers in her time at the helm.

Moving forward, Phillips will maintain her head coaching duties of the Pitt-Bradford softball program and also the athletic department’s internal affairs in her Assistant Athletic Director role.

“Tina has done such a great job of being the head coach of both the volleyball and softball programs over the past 12 years,” said Director of Athletics Lori Mazza. “She has moved both programs into the spotlight here at Pitt-Bradford. As we move forward within our department, Tina will assume additional internal duties while solely coaching the softball team.”

Tom Roof has been the assistant coach of the Pitt-Bradford volleyball team now for six seasons. In his time on the court, Pitt-Bradford has an overall record of 86-90, collected the AMCC Championship in 2010 and made two postseason appearances.

Roof joined Pitt-Bradford in the fall of 2009 after leading Salamanca High School to the 2008 New York Class C State Championship in his only season with the Warriors. It was the first undefeated season in school history and the only state title. Salamanca captured the CCAA Division II, Section 6 and Far West Regional Championships as well. 

Roof founded the Keystone-Empire Volleyball Association (KEVA) Junior Olympic Girls’ Volleyball Club and served as director and coach for 13 years. The program grew to become one of the most successful and largest Junior Olympic Clubs in the north central/northwest Pennsylvania and southwestern New York area. He coached 10 teams to medals at the East Coast Championships. He also served as an assistant coach at Olean High School for four years.