Meet the Coaches

Dr. Elizabeth Zicha
Head Coach

Dr. Elizabeth “Bea” Zicha, the fifth all-time winningest active coach in Division III and 24th across all divisions, has built a national-caliber volleyball program at Muskingum University.

While at Muskingum, Zicha has more overall and Ohio Athletic Conference wins than any other coach in the legaue. She has posted a record of 621-302 (.673 winning percentage) including a record of 172-88 (.661) in league matches. She has earned six OAC Championships, three National Collegiate Athletic Association quarterfinal appearances and one third-place NCAA finish.

Zicha has guided the Fighting Fish to 23 years of at least 17 wins or more. Numerous student-athletes have been honored with conference, regional and national accolades under her tutelage.

Additionally, she recorded a 58-12 (.829) mark during a four-year tenure in the high school ranks.

Zicha was recognized for her volleyball accomplishments at Muskingum when the Ohio High School Volleyball Coaches’ Association inducted her into the OHSVCA Hall of Fame in 2001.

Zicha’s special honors include: four OAC Coach of the Year awards, three Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year awards and four Indiana County Coach of the Year awards.

Zicha fell in love with volleyball during her high school years and continued to play for the next four years during her undergraduate tenure at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. After receiving her bachelor’s degree cum laude, she coached volleyball and taught at Homer City High School in Homer City, Pa. After earning her master of science degree in physical education from Ohio University, she began her Muskingum career.

Off campus, Zicha has been a featured speaker at the Ohio High School Volleyball Coaches’ Clinic and has spoken at the American Volleyball Coaches’ Association Convention and Clinic.

Other notable career activites include: speaker at numerous OHSVCA clinics, Court Coach at OHSVCA Elite Camp, life-time member of OHSVCA, National Federation Volleyball official and USA official and coach.

In addition to coaching the volleyball team, Zicha is a professor in the physical education department at Muskingum and in 2002 received the Cora I. Orr Faculty Service Award. In 2007, she received the William Oxley Thompson Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Zicha earned her Ph.D. from West Virginia University.

Shannon Wells
Assistant Coach

Shannon Wells is entering her second season as assistant coach for the Muskingum University volleyball program.

Prior to arriving in New Concord, Wells was a three-year member of the Xavier University volleyball team. The former Musketeer saw action in 64 matches as a defensive specialist and logged a career 227 digs. Wells started her college career at West Virginia State University where she averaged 3.57 digs per game.

The former Bishop Hartley High School standout has served as a camp counselor, coach and volleyball instructor at Xavier, West Virginia State, Bishop Hartley, Mintonette Sports Volleyball Club and the Charleston Volleyball Club.

Wells graduated with a B.A. in history from Xavier in 2011.