The IU volleyball team's coaching staff is about to shake up once again this offseason.
Sarah Gustin, who worked as an assistant under IU coach Sherry Dunbar for the last three years with the Hoosiers as well as the three years prior at the College of Charleston, has agreed to become the head coach at Cal State-San Marcos.
"Leaving Indiana was not an easy decision," Gustin said in a press release from IUHoosiers.com. "I have a wonderful family at IU, and I will miss them dearly. I am very grateful to Coach Dunbar and the administration for the opportunity to be a part of the volleyball program.
"My time here has prepared me to be a head coach back in my home state of California, and I am excited about the new opportunity that awaits me there."
Gustin's departure comes in the same offseason that fellow former assistant Keith Schunzel left for a new assistant job and former director of operations Amanda Timmers stepped down to return to school. Replacing them are Chris Kosty and Kelsey Cronin, respectively.
However, Gustin might be the biggest loss.
Having worked with Dunbar so closely since 2003, the former Michigan State standout is in many ways similar to the IU coach. Gustin and Dunbar both played middle blocker in college, and Gustin primarily worked with middle blockers and outside hitters during her time with the Hoosiers.
She was instrumental in helping rising senior middle blocker Ashley Benson become the program's first All-American, and Benson has listed Gustin as one of her role models.
It will be interesting to see who Dunbar chooses to replace Gustin.
