COLUMBUS, Miss. -  The W Athletics has announced the hiring of veteran coach Donna Day as its next head volleyball coach. Day comes to the Owls as their fifth head coach, with 17 years of coaching experience – twelve as head coach – at the NCAA Division I and II levels.

"We are so blessed to have Coach Day join The W Athletics family," MUW Director of Athletics Buddy Foster said. "She brings a great breadth of experience, leadership, and enthusiasm to the position. To be able to attract a head coach with her coaching pedigree is a tremendous plus for our student-athletes - current and future - and is something not enjoyed by too many programs at our level. We are excited to see where she can take Owls Volleyball."

Most recently, Day served as the assistant coach at NCAA I Southern Illinois University-Carbondale for three seasons, from 2022-24. Before joining the Salukis, Day spent a total of six seasons (two as an assistant) at NCAA I Niagara University, reaching the METRO Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament in each of her four years as the Purple Eagles' head coach.  

Before stepping up a level, Day spent eight seasons as the head coach for NCAA Division II Ursuline College in her home state of Ohio. In addition to having teams that produced 25 all-conference awards, Day's teams had 22 student-athletes gain scholar-athlete recognition, with her teams earning the American Volleyball Coaches Association Academic Team designation in all eight of her seasons at the Arrows' helm.

Prior to her collegiate coaching career, Day gained extensive experience in club volleyball as a tournament director, club director, and coach in the Ohio Valley Region of USA Volleyball. 

Day began her career in volleyball in 2004 as an intern with USA Volleyball in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she supported the operations and administration of the organization's High Performance program. During her internship, she had the unique opportunity to observe the U.S. National Team firsthand as it prepared for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

Day graduated from Cleveland State University with a Bachelor of Science in Middle Childhood Education in 2002 and earned her Master of Education, graduating Cum Laude, from Cleveland State University in Education (Sport Management and Sport Psychology) in 2004.

"I am honored to join Mississippi University for Women as the next head volleyball coach," Day said. "I would like to thank Athletic Director Buddy Foster, Vice President for Student Affairs Jessica Harpole, and everyone involved in the search process for the opportunity to lead this program.

"From my first conversations with the administration, it was clear that The W is a special place with a strong commitment to its student-athletes. I am excited to get to know our players, build meaningful relationships on campus and within the community, and create a championship culture built on hard work, accountability, and genuine care for one another. I can't wait to get to Columbus and begin this journey with our team and the entire Owls family."

The W volleyball opens its 2026 season on Friday, September 4, versus Rhodes College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia, at the Covenant College Classic.