September 26, 2022 | by Taylor Pill

WATERTOWN, Wis. -- After 16 seasons as head coach of Maranatha Women’s Volleyball and four seasons as a coach of the Men, Coach Regina DeLozier has announced that she will retire at the end of the 2022 fall season.

DeLozier - a two-time NCCAA National Coach of the Year - is one of the winningest coaches in Maranatha athletics history - let alone the Women’s Volleyball program. Her career record with the program stands at 333-164 and she has overseen three (consecutive) NCCAA DII National Championships, 3 national runner-up finishes, and an outstanding 12 NCCAA regional titles. Not to mention, she helped the Maranatha Men’s Volleyball program through its first five seasons at the varsity level.

Not only has DeLozier been successful on a team level, but she has also developed prolific individuals. She has coached 7 NCCAA National Players of the Year and 12 Regional Players of the Year, making Maranatha the undisputed regional powerhouse and a mainstay at the national championships.

DeLozier’s coaching is thorough. It’s team-centered. It’s intentional. And it’s unrelenting.

It’s her.

Some coaches either develop championship teams or a positive team culture. DeLozier is one of those rare gems that does both.

"While a fierce competitor, Regina has always kept sports in the right perspective for the Christian young ladies who have come through her program at MBU," said Dr. Vickie Denny - former Maranatha Women's Volleyball Head Coach and current head coach of the Bob Jones University Bruins. "She understands the real purpose beyond the game is to grow young ladies in their Christian faith. Over the years, Regina has coached many fine young ladies who embody her philosophy of using sport for God’s glory. I wish her God’s very best in this new chapter of her life after volleyball." 

DeLozier is an exception because she is exceptional. She’s not just determined to get the best of the competition, she’s determined to bring the best out of her players. As a bonus, five of them have earned national honors from the NCCAA by earning the Game Plan 4 LIFE character award. She is developing leaders, and she does it in her own effective way. 

"[DeLozier] doesn't train her captains to be leaders right away," said Pam Fiocchi, who played for four years under DeLozier, serving as captain before joining DeLozier on the coaching staff. "She picks people who are natural leaders but she allows them to lead - she drops them into the fire and they step into the leadership role and they learn. And then, of course, she helps them. She knows what you can handle and helps you do it."

The diligence DeLozier brings to the table never stops. With her team's ability to peak in the postseason in mind, some may think she has a magic formula that she reserves for November alone.

But as it turns out, the "magic formula" is good old-fashioned, year-round work.

"Nothing changes [for the postseason]," said Fiocchi. "The expectations, her drive, nothing changes. The prep for next season starts literally the day after nationals ends. She already has the calender worked out and as soon as nationals is done, she is re-watching videos, thinking through how she can be a better coach and make [the players] more successful, planning for the new freshman and returners.

"As a player, coming in and having the structure already there. . . you grow so much more," said Fiocchi. "The structure, the consistency. . . she already has the basic structure in place and all she needs is to put up the little bits and pieces along the way. The framework is there already."

DeLozier hasn’t just built a dynasty. She’s built teams. True teams - the kind that stick together and stay together. That fight for each other and bounce back from low points. DeLozier sets the expectations for her players at the highest levels and somehow, her players always seem to rise to the occasion. 

Because for all the attention that her titles attract, DeLozier turns her own attention inward toward her players. The result is close friendships and support that stays with them long after they leave Maranatha.

“We thank Coach DeLozier for the many years of service to Maranatha, and especially as they relate to the women’s volleyball program," said Maranatha Athletic Director, Rob Thompson. "Her enthusiasm and pursuit of excellence both on and off the court have been evidenced throughout her tenure as the head coach. The number of regional and national championships, All-Region and All-American selections, sport and national GP4L selections is unsurpassed.  

"On the men’s side, she and her daughter Torey (DeLozier) Rosen developed the program from its infancy as a club team to a fully sponsored program. Thank you Coach DeLozier, and we pray for God’s leading as you venture down this new path of ministry and family care.”

Moving Forward 

DeLozier leaves a hole in the coaching staff that Maranatha is eagerly looking to fill.

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For a coaching application, email athletics@mbu.edu

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