USF Athletics

Draper Completes Staff with Additions of Meghan and Daniel Magnusson

February 28, 2019

TAMPA, Feb., 28, 2018 – Head coach Courtney Draper is happy to announce the additions of two assistant coaches to the staff in Meghan and Daniel Magnusson.

"When I talked with the search committee, one of the things that stood out the most about these two is their extremely high level of integrity and professionalism," said Draper. "I am so honored to add them both to our USF volleyball staff and I think it will be a smooth transition for them this spring. I really think that our players will respect and respond to both Meghan and Daniel and I know that they can help us achieve our goals of being a postseason team year in and year out."

The husband-wife combo both coached at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington for multiple seasons prior to their arrival in Tampa. Meghan will serve as recruiting coordinator, work closely with the setters, handle scouting and assist with calling offensive plays. Daniel will train attackers and blockers, handle all video breakdown, scout and game prep for opponents and assist with recruiting both internationally and nationally.

A former collegiate standout at the University of Tampa with international ties and an impressive volleyball pedigree, Meghan comes to Tampa following three seasons as an assistant coach and director of recruiting at UNCW.

In 2018, the Seahawks returned to the Colonial Athletic Association tournament for the first time since winning the tournament in 2015. UNCW won a pair of in-season tournaments and stunned eventual conference champion Hofstra and defending champion James Madison.

She moved to Wilmington from Gislaved, Sweden, where she played professionally for the Gislaved Volleyball Club. Her coaching resume includes stints with the Ljungbys (Sweden) Volleyball Club, Georgia Juniors Volleyball Club and Jacksonville Juniors Volleyball Club.

She enjoyed an outstanding playing career at the University of Tampa, earning American Volleyball Coaches Association First-Team All-America honors twice, before playing professionally for the Bekescsabai Club in Hungary. In four seasons at Tampa, she led the Spartans to four NCAA Division II Sunshine State Conference championships and three South Region titles. The Spartans were the Division II National Runner-Up in 2010.

"For me, this opportunity to coach back in my home state is a dream come true," said Meghan. "I am looking forward to joining the USF volleyball family and help further the success of the program."

Her coaching career began as a graduate assistant for Coach Lizzy Stemke at Georgia in August of 2012 before moving on to Gislaved.

"I have known Meghan and her family for several years and I have been very impressed with her growth in the coaching profession," said Draper. "Our paths have crossed many times on the recruiting trail and her evaluations and work ethic are second to none. We really wanted to find a coach who had high level setting experience and I know that Meghan can continue to develop our already talented setters. Meghan also has extensive international experience and we are hoping to tap into that area of recruiting as well. After having a standout career at the University of Tampa, this is almost like a homecoming for Meghan. Her familiarity with the state of Florida will be significant in our recruiting efforts."

Daniel spent two seasons at UNCW, volunteering for both the indoor and beach volleyball programs in 2017 before serving as an assistant with the indoor program in 2018. Prior to his stint at UNCW, Daniel served as an assistant coach for Sweden's Junior National team in 2017. He helped lead the team to a silver medal at the Northern European Volleyball u19 Championships in Kettering.

"I am very excited to join the USF volleyball staff and become a Bull," said Daniel. "Courtney and the last coaching staff set a solid foundation and the future of the USF volleyball is very bright with a good group of rising talent paired with leadership from returning players."

From 2014-17, he was the head coach of the Women's A-Team for the Gislaved Volleybollklub, which competed in the Elite Series. Daniel has extensive experience with some of the best athletes in the United States and Europe, coaching with Bring It Promotions from 2012-2018. He had served as a European Global Challenge Head Coach from 2012-18. At the European Global Challenge, he coached the women's u23 team from 2012-2017 and the Swedish delegation u17 team in 2018.

Before moving into the coaching ranks, Daniel played professionally from 2002-07 with several clubs in his native Sweden. He finished his playing career in 2007 with KFUM Jönköping in the first division.

"While Daniel is fairly new to the NCAA volleyball scene, he has coached some of the best athletes in the United States and in Europe," said Draper. "While coaching with Bring It Promotions, he had the opportunity to put all-star teams together that are made up of some of the best players in the United States, and take them to Europe to compete. He also was a head coach for seven seasons at the professional level in Sweden, and most recently was the assistant coach for the Swedish Junior National Team."

About USF Volleyball
Head coach Courtney Draper led her team to 20 wins, the most in her time at USF and the most for the program since 2002. The Bulls appeared in the NIVC, the program's first postseason trip since 2002. Redshirt senior middle blocker Clara Payne became the seventh player in program history to reach 400 career blocks during the season and was named to the All-American Athletic Conference second team. Junior outside hitter Jac'cara Walker led USF with 394 kills and recorded her 1000^th career kill during the year. She paced the Bulls with 15 double-doubles and was named first team all-conference.
 
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