Charlie Haer named new Western New England College women's volleyball coach

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Former Springfield College standout Charlie Haer will take over as head coach of the Western New England College women’s volleyball team starting in 2006.

Haer, who served as an assistant coach of the Golden Bears the last three seasons, replaces Greg Poole who resigned to become the new women’s volleyball coach at Western Connecticut State University this past spring.

Haer graduated from Springfield in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in Recreation and Tourism Management. He was a four-year starter at outside hitter for the Pride and a member of the 1997 squad that captured the inaugural Molten Division III National Championship. Haer was named to the Molten All-Tournament.

The Melbourne, Florida native also was a three-time Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) Division III Second Team selection.

Haer is second on the school’s all-time list in digs (611) and digs per game (2.34), and is eighth in kills (724). He is first in digs for a season (275 in 1998).

Western New England College opens its season at 5:00 p.m. Friday (September 1) against Colby-Sawyer in an opening round game of the WNEC Invitational.