In 2006, Sheffield guided the Great Danes to a 19-13 overall record, with a 10-2 mark in conference play. UAlbany, which earned the right to host the conference tournament with a regular-season championship, became the first team to win the conference crown by coming back from a 2-0 deficit in the championship game. The Great Danes defeated UMBC in five games to advance to their second NCAA Tournament. The program became the first in the school’s Division I history to host an NCAA Regional, as Minnesota, St. John’s and Siena visited University Gymnasium. Sheffield was named the America East’s Coach of the Year for the second time, and had six players earn all-conference accolades.
Setter Blair Buchanan became the first player in NCAA Division I history to earn her conference’s player and setter of the year honors for three straight seasons. Buchanan, who was the program’s first Division I honorable mention All-American in 2005 and 2006, earned AVCA All-Northeast Region accolades for the third straight year and finished her career as the program’s all-time assists leader with 5,049.
Classmates Ashley DeNeal and Shelby Goldman also left indelible marks on the UAlbany record books, as DeNeal finished as the program’s all-time career digs leader with 1,903 and Goldman topped the career kills chart with 1,671. DeNeal, who was named the 2006 America East Tournament Most Outstanding Player, was also a two-time all-conference first team member, and named to the AVCA All-Northeast Region Team in 2005. Goldman was a three-team all-conference first team honoree, and earned AVCA all-region accolades in 2004 and 2006. All three were named to the conference’s all-academic squad as seniors.
Sheffield steered the Great Danes to an 11-1 record in America East play in 2005, marking the second straight year that UAlbany lost only one match against league opponents during the regular season. As the number one seed in the conference tournament, UAlbany led Stony Brook after three games in the semifinal round, but could not hold on as the Seawolves posted an upset in five frames. The Great Danes regrouped to win their final two matches of the season and post a Division I program-record 28 victories, one more than the 2004 mark.
Sheffield’s Great Danes were one of just two teams at the Division I level to continuously improve their RPI rating from 2000 to 2005, moving to number 40 in 2005 after occupying the 295-spot in 2000. UAlbany’s 2005 ranking represents the best in America East Conference volleyball history. The team also posted the best-ever winning percentage (.875) in the league.
Sheffield coached Ashlee Reed, a 2006 graduate and team co-captain, and was named the inaugural America East Woman of the Year. Reed was the eighth player in UAlbany history to combine for 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in her career. Fellow 2006 graduate Eileen Nicole Rodriguez holds the NCAA single-season and career records for both service aces and service aces per game.
These successes came on the heels of a 2004 America East record of 13-1 and a No. 1 seed for the conference tournament. The Great Danes finished with 27 victories, their most since 1988, plus won a record 18 consecutive matches, including decisions over Big East Conference opponents Syracuse and Boston College. UAlbany’s breakout year came in 2003, as the Great Danes posted a 24-10 record and registered the highest number of single-season wins since 1992. In addition, Sheffield led UAlbany to a 9-5 America East mark, placing them fourth, and into their second consecutive appearance at the conference tournament.
Sheffield was previously the top assistant at Clemson University, where he handled the team’s ball control, defense and middle hitters. He also served as scouting and recruiting coordinator. From 1998-2000, Sheffield was a first assistant coach at the University of Virginia. He was responsible for scouting and game plans, assisted with recruiting and practice, and directed team travel.
During his two-year stay at Virginia, the program earned its first two appearances in the NCAA Tournament. In 1998, the Cavaliers finished with a 26-8 record, the second-highest victory total in the program’s history. Virginia ended the season ranked 23rd in the national RPI rankings. In his final year, Virginia’s recruiting class was ranked sixth nationally by Volleyball Magazine.
Prior to his arrival at Virginia, Sheffield served as an assistant at the University of Houston in 1997. The Cougars captured their seventh consecutive NCAA berth and won the Conference USA Tournament. In addition, he has extensive experience coaching junior volleyball teams. Sheffield was the head coach of the Houston Juniors from 1997-98 and Munciana (Ind.) Volleyball Club from 1989-97.
A native of Muncie, Ind., Sheffield began his coaching career at Muncie Burris High School, where he was a varsity assistant for a squad that won two state championships and a national championship. He also was an assistant at New Castle High School, as the team achieved a top-10 state ranking in the 1990s.
Sheffield was one of nine members of the NCAA Women's Volleyball Rules Committee from 2004-07, and was chair of the committee in 2006-07. He also represents the America East on the Division I Head Coaches' Committee. That group advises the AVCA on matters relating to Division I NCAA volleyball, such as legislation, recruiting, and ethics and conduct. Sheffield is also a national and regional poll voter.
Sheffield earned his bachelor’s degree in general studies from Ball State University. He has also worked as an evaluator and court coach for USA Volleyball Junior National Team Tryouts. Sheffield and his wife, Cathy, reside in Slingerlands.
