USF Athletics

Episode 10: Michelle Collier

May 27, 2020

TAMPA, MAY 27, 2020 – Vice President of Athletics Michael Kelly catches up with former USF volleyball great Michelle Collier in the 10th episode of Kelly's Conversations.

Kelly's new weekly podcast series features USF standouts, coaches and administrators of the past, reliving their exciting moments in Bulls history and informing listeners on what they're up to now.

Episode 1: Chad Barnhardt
Episode 2: Courtney Williams
Episode 3: Chucky Atkins
Episode 4: Austin Reiter
Episode 5: Paul Griffin
Episode 6: Shane McClanahan
Episode 7: Sam Barrington
Episode 8: Kerine Black
Episode 9: Jeff Attinella
 


Collier USF Feats

• First All-American in USF volleyball history who shined as an outside hitter for the program from 1998-2002.
• First volleyball player to be inducted into the USF Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011. Her No. 10 jersey hangs in The Corral.
• Named Conference USA Player of the Decade in 2004 (unanimous selection).
• Two-time Conference USA Player of the Year (2000, 2002) and C-USA Freshman of the Year (1998). Earned first conference player of the year award as a redshirt sophomore after missing the 1999 season with a knee injury.
• First four-time all-conference first team selection in C-USA history and a three-time all-conference tournament player.
• Owns USF career records for kills (2,729) and digs (1,747) in addition to ranking second in career aces (257). Her 2,729 kills are still the most in C-USA history.
• Set three USF season records in 2000 that still stand – kills (760), kills per set (6.28) and attacks (1,873).
• Set two program match records with 41 kills and 106 attacks in a 3-1 home victory Louisville on Nov. 10, 2000.
• Led the Bulls to a 120-48 record over her four seasons that included three NCAA tournament trips, two Conference USA titles and one C-USA tournament crown.
• Helped USF win a school record 20 consecutive matches during the 2000 season.
• 2002 USF grad returned to the program as an assistant coach from 2008-09, when she guided the Bulls' outside hitters and headed up international recruiting. USF finished in the top half of the Big East standings in both of Collier's seasons on staff.

 
Pro Notes

• Played professional volleyball for four years (2003-06) on a global tour that took her to Cyprus, Indonesia, Puerto Rico, Spain and The Netherlands.
• Earned many honors, including Indonesian League MVP and Cyprus' Best Foreign Player.

 
More Interesting Collier Facts

• Head coach of Georgia Tech volleyball since 2014 who has led the program to two 20-plus win seasons and a winning record in four of six seasons. Learn more HERE.
• Named ACC Coach of the Year and AVCA Region Coach of the Year in 2019 for leading Georgia Tech to its first NIVC Championship and a second-place finish in the ACC. It marked the program's highest finish in conference play since 2004.
• Coached both the sand volleyball and indoor volleyball programs at Jacksonville in 2012 and 2013. Named the 2013 Atlantic Sun Conference Coach of the Year after leading Jacksonville to an NCAA Tournament appearance and a 30-4 overall record.
• Served two seasons (2010-11) as an assistant coach at South Carolina, including a three-month stint as the Gamecocks' temporary head coach.
• Originally from Recife, Brazil.
• Fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
• Prior to attending USF, was a foreign exchange student who played one high school volleyball season at Holdrege High School in Holdrege, Neb.
• Married to Rafael Silva, who played volleyball for nine years in Brazil and Spain's top divisions. Michelle and Rafael have one daughter, Tais, and one son, Rafael.

 
About USF Volleyball
Be sure to follow USF volleyball on social media (Twitter/Instagram/Facebook) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information.
 
USF volleyball has an all-time record of 893-678-2, and has made seven NCAA Tournament appearances (1993, '95, '96, '97, '98, '00, '03). The Bulls appeared in the NIVC in 2018, the program's first postseason trip since 2002. The USF volleyball program is now led by new head coach Jolene Shepardson. The Tampa native returns to USF 18 years after helping lead the Bulls volleyball program to its last conference championship and NCAA tournament appearance as a student-athlete in 2002.