Derek “Dex” Schroeder is in his eighth year at the helm of the Samford volleyball program.
Over the past seven seasons, Schroeder has led his team to four Southern Conference North Division Championships, including a pair of conference tournament championships in 2011 and 2014 along with two NCAA Tournament appearances in 2011 in 2014. He has a 154-74 overall record, the highest winning percentage in Samford history.
After falling just short of a SoCon Tournament Championship in 2013, Schroeder had the Bulldogs poised and ready to take the title in 2014. With senior leadership from Michaela Reesor, Chelsi Carter and Selina Shirmer the Bulldogs captured its second SoCon Tournament Championship in just four seasons. Carter was tabbed Most Outstanding Player of the SoCon Tournament while sophomore Erin Bognar and Reesor made the All-Tournament team.
In 2013 the Bulldogs were tabbed as SoCon preseason favorites and showed why as the team finished with a 23-11 (12-4 SoCon) record. The Bulldogs made it all the way to the SoCon tournament championship game before falling to Georgia State. This Samford squad boasted SoCon Player of the year Michaela Reesor and SoCon Libero of the Year Chelsi Carter. A pair of freshmen in Gabbi Greenwald and Erin Bognar made the SoCon All-Freshman team.
In 2012, Schroeder led the Bulldogs to their fourth North Division title in five years while posting a 23-9 (14-2 SoCon) record. A very decorated senior class finished their careers in 2012, with Lauren Hutchinson (.377 hitting percentage) and Alexis Bauer (1,968 digs) holding career school records. Hutchinson and Michaela Reesor were named First Team All-SoCon while Katie Murphy was named Second Team All-SoCon.
In 2011, the Bulldogs finished with a 29-5 record, the winningest total in school history. The season culminated with the Bulldogs winning a conference championship on their home court, earning them a trip to the NCAA Tournament. There, they went five sets against Big East Champion Cincinnati, but ultimately fell, 3-2. They were the first SoCon team to ever go five sets in the NCAA Tournament.
In 2011, Elizabeth Neisler was named SoCon Player of the Year. She also earned AVCA All-South Region and honorable mention AVCA All-American honors. Hutchinson was a first-team All-SoCon honoree and honorable mention AVCA All-South Region. Murphy was named second-team All-SoCon, while Reesor earned All-Freshman honors.
In 2010, the Bulldogs made their third consecutive appearance in the SoCon Tournament, with Murphy named SoCon Freshman of the Year and Neisler earning second-team All-SoCon honors.
In 2009, the Bulldogs tacked on another North Division title while setting the school record for most consecutive home wins at 22.
In his first year, Schroeder led the Bulldogs to a 28-5 record, a school record at the time, and a Southern Conference Northern Division title, a 12-game winning streak and an undefeated record at home.
Before coming to Samford, Schroeder served as assistant coach at St. Louis University for a year. Before his stint at St. Louis, he spent four seasons as an assistant with the women’s team at Furman University (2003–06).
Additionally, Schroeder founded the Potential School of Volleyball in Greenville, S.C., a club volleyball program for teens ages 14–17.
The Wheatley, Ontario, native began his volleyball career at the University of Windsor in 1993. He was recruited as a setter but made the transition to middle blocker, where he had a successful four-year career. He then played for the University of British Colombia from 1998 to 1999, leading his team to a No. 6 national ranking. The middle blocker earned top 10 national rankings in blocks per game, digs per game and hitting percentage.
When Schroeder moved into the collegiate coaching ranks, he took on the task of bringing back the St. Clair College men’s volleyball program from a 25-year hiatus. In 2001, his squad featured the conference leader in points per game and a first-team All-Conference selection.
Schroeder moved to the University of Mississippi in 2002 and helped first-year Head Coach Joe Getzin rebuild the Rebel women’s volleyball program as a volunteer coach.
Schroeder graduated from the University of Windsor in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in human kinetics with an emphasis in sports management. He and his wife, Pam, reside in Irondale, Ala.
