Mark Barnard Named Head Coach

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Mark Barnard has been named the 11^th head coach in the history of Oregon State volleyball, Vice President and Director of Athletics Todd Stansbury announced Monday.

Barnard will enter his 12^th season with Oregon State in 2016 after serving the previous 11 years under former head coach Taras Liskevych.

"I'd like to thank Todd Stansbury and the Oregon State Athletic Department for this fantastic opportunity," Barnard said. "I was fortunate enough to spend the last 11 years learning from Taras Liskevych, which I think is as good an apprenticeship as you'll get anywhere in volleyball. There is a sense of expectations and renewed enthusiasm currently at OSU Athletics and I want to be a part of this special place. I'm very excited to be the head coach, and abide by everything the athletic department espouses with its Everyday Champions."

"Coach Barnard embraces the culture that we are developing at Oregon State Athletics," Stansbury said. "His wealth of experience at all levels of volleyball makes him a natural to take leadership of our program. I'm excited to witness how he builds upon the foundation that has already been developed and look forward to great success for our student-athletes on and off the court."

Barnard takes over a program that is just two years removed from Oregon State's first Sweet 16 appearance as the Beavers defeated Creighton and Little Rock (then called UALR) to advance. That year, Mary-Kate Marshall, who will be a junior for the Beavers in 2016, was named the Pac-12 Conference's Freshman of the Year.

"Mark Barnard is one of the top coaches that I have had the pleasure to work with," Liskevych said. "It has been wonderful to work together for the last 11-plus years. He is an excellent tactician and skill teacher who has great rapport with the staff & players. Mark will be an outstanding head coach and I have no doubt that he will lead the volleyball program to new heights."

Barnard, who has overseen the team's setters and offense during his tenure under Liskevych, has mentored some of the top student-athletes in program history. Most recently, in 2014, Tayla Woods concluded her Oregon State career with 3,153 assists, which ranks fourth all-time. Woods was teammates for two seasons with Megan McBride, whose 2,605 career assists ranks seventh.

A native of Sydney, Australia, Barnard helped mentor fellow Australian and All-American Rachel Rourke from 2006-09. She concluded her career with a program-best 1,920 kills. Rourke is the program's first and only back-to-back all-conference performer, doing so in 2008 and 2009.

Barnard oversaw the development of Camille Saxton, who finished her career in 2012 as one of the most prolific offensive players at Oregon State. She ended her career 11th in school history in kills and fifth in attacks. Saxton finished with 1,307 points, 12th all-time.

The past two offseasons, Barnard has been the head coach of the Australian Women's National Team. Nicknamed the "Volleyroos," the team entered 2014 ranked 100^th in the world, and in one year under Barnard's tutelage, improved to 46^th.

Barnard had International experience prior to his appointment as head coach. He was an assistant for the National Team from 1997-00, including the Sydney Olympics. During that time he also served as head coach of the women's national junior team (1999-2000) and women's national youth team (1997-99). In 2001, Barnard led the National Team of Australia to its first qualification to the World Championships in over 20 years. At its height, the Australian team was ranked No. 12 in the world.

Barnard, who broke into the profession at the high school level, coached at Westfields Sports High School from 1992-97. They won the National Championships in 1995-96 becoming the first school to ever achieve this honor. He also spent time coaching the National Junior Men's Team from 1994-97.

He was prolific as an athlete as well, playing on the 1984 Australian Junior Men's Team. He also competed on New South Wales Junior Teams from 1982 through 87, three times winning the National Championships and was an All-Australian 12 selection.

Barnard is a 1991 graduate of the University of Sydney with a degree in Education and Science. Mark and his wife, Louise, have two children, Isabella, and Alexander.

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