Cougar Volleyball Head Coach
Melinda Wrye-Washington
In 2000, fulfilling her first season at the helm of the Cougar volleyball program, head coach Melinda Wrye-Washington surpassed all expectations. With a team composed of ten freshmen and three sophomores, Wrye-Washington led the youthful squad to a 44-2 finish and a second place finish at the NAIA National Tournament in West Palm Beach, Fla. For her efforts, she was named the American Midwest Conference and NAIA Region V Coach of the Year.
In 2001, the Cougars improved on their 2000 performance, finishing as the NAIA National Champions with a perfect record of 38-0. For her efforts, Wrye-Washington was named conference, region and national tournament coach of the year.
The 2002 squad finished with a mark of 32-7 and in 2003, the squad again earned an appearance in the NAIA National Championship match before falling to Fresno Pacific University in the Championship game. Last season, in Washington's fifth year, the Cougars finished third in the NAIA National Tournament with a record of 43-5. For her efforts, she was named the NAIA AVCA Coach of the Year by her peers. Through seven seasons as the Columbia head coach, Washington has posted a record of 385 wins and just 33 losses, a winning percentage of .896.
Melinda played for three seasons at the University of Missouri where she a team captain and an All-Big Eight Selection. She transferred to Columbia College for her senior season and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education in 1995. She has also earned a Masters in Athletic Administration and Sports Management from William Woods University.
During her senior season at Columbia College "Minnow" was named the first NAIA First Team All-American in Cougar volleyball history. That season she led the squad to a 40-19 overall record, to an American Midwest Conference championship, and to the team’s first-ever NAIA National Tournament appearance.
Following graduation from Columbia College, Wrye-Washington spent three seasons as head women’s volleyball coach, head women’s basketball coach and senior athletic administrator of Westminster College in Fulton, Mo. In her final season, she led the women’s volleyball Blue Jays to a 23-6 record and their first-ever NCAA Division III National Tournament for any Westminster women’s program.
In three years at Westminster, Melinda led the volleyball squad to St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships in 1998 and 1999, earning SLIAC Coach of the Year honors both seasons. She also served as the women's basketball coach while at Westminster.
Coming into the 2007 volleyball season Melinda has a career colligate volleyball coaching record of 355-52 (.872).
Melinda has two children, Michael, 14, and Madison, 12.