Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1545675
1 2 A U G U S T 2 0 2 6 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M P enn State promoted longtime assis- tant Colin McMillan in May to succeed Mark Pavlik as head coach of the men's volleyball team. McMillan had been serv- ing as associate head coach and was a member of Pavlik's staff for the past 19 seasons. A Libertyville, Ill., native and Ohio State graduate, McMillan becomes only the fourth head coach in program history. Tom Tait was the first to hold the position, starting with the team's inaugural season in 1977. His successors — Tom Peterson and Pavlik — both won national cham- pionships, and McMillan was a member of the PSU staff that brought the NCAA Tournament trophy back to Rec Hall in 2008. In a news release announcing his pro- motion, McMillan said he was "honored and humbled" to have the opportunity to lead the program. "To continue the legacy established by Coach Tait, Coach Peterson and Coach Pavlik is a huge responsibility that I look forward to taking on," he said. "I would like to thank [athletics director Patrick] Kraft and the administration for believing in our staff to lead this program and build upon the great foundation laid by all those that have come before us." Pavlik described McMillan as "an out- standing role model for our guys as a coach, father and husband. His integrity, compassion and leadership have served our program so well. He has helped to mold many minds and lives – mine in- cluded. "Now, as he becomes the next head coach of Penn State men's volleyball, I am thrilled to know our program will con- tinue to improve." McMillan started his coaching career in 2003 as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, where he had been a four-time All- Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball As- sociation middle blocker. After coming to Penn State in 2008, he helped oversee four middle blockers who combined for 11 All- America honors. The Nittany Lions have reached the NCAA Tournament 14 times during his tenure, including nine final four appearances. "We are thrilled to name Colin as the next head coach of the men's volleyball program at Penn State," Kraft said. "He has played an integral role in the team's success at the conference and national level in his nearly two decades working with Coach Pavlik. "His dedication to the program and his commitment to developing student-ath- letes at the collegiate level made him an easy choice to ensure Penn State contin- ues to compete as a championship-caliber team." — Greg Pickel Colin McMillan Set To Lead PSU Men's Volleyball Program McMillan has been at Penn State since 2008. He helped guide the team to a national champi- onship in his first season on Mark Pavlik's staff. PHOTO COURTESY PENN STATE ATHLETICS M E N ' S B A S K E T B A L L NITTANY LIONS MAKE LATE ROSTER ADDITION The Penn State men's basketball team added another player in June when fifth-year senior guard Dasonte Bowen committed to play for the Nittany Lions after being granted an additional season of eligibility. A Boston native, Bowen began his ca- reer at Iowa in 2022 and spent two sea- sons with the Hawkeyes before transfer- ring to St. Bonaventure in 2024. An injury ended his debut season with the Bonnies after just 10 games, leading to his return as a redshirt junior this past year. During the 2025-26 season, the 6-foot- 2, 190-pound Bowen averaged 10.9 points, 4.8 assists and 3.0 rebounds over 34.4 minutes per game in 33 appear- ances. With Bowen's addition, Penn State has filled 14 of its 15 available scholarship spots for the 2026-27 season. During an appearance at the Coaches vs. Cancer golf tournament May 29, head coach Mike Rhoades didn't rule out the pos- sibility of filling the Lions' final roster spot before the start of the academic year. "You never know if somebody could say, 'Hey, I want to play in the States,'" Rhoades said. "Somebody can decommit. You just never know. You're always com- municating, talking to people. And it's also for the future, too." — Nate Bauer W O M E N ' S B A S K E T B A L L NEVADA TRANSFER JOINS LADY LIONS The rebuilt Penn State women's basket- ball team welcomed its seventh player in June when it signed sophomore guard Skylar Durley, a Nevada transfer coming off a debut season in which she earned Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year honors. The 5-foot-8 Durley averaged 11.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists while playing 31.9 minutes per game for the Wolf Pack. An Oklahoma City native, she started all 31 games and scored in double figures in 19 of them, posting a season-best 22 points in Nevada's regu- lar-season finale against Utah State. "The addition of Skylar really strength- ens our team in many ways," Penn State head coach Tanisha Wright said. "Skylar is a tough-nosed guard who isn't afraid to mix it up, evidenced by her ability to rebound the ball." — Matt Herb