TJC Volleyball Coach Dana Hatch to Retire

Coach Dana Hatch, the only women’s volleyball coach in Tyler Junior College history, has announced her resignation as the College’s volleyball coach, effective July 1.

Hatch, who started the program from scratch in 1996, has been one of the most successful volleyball coaches in the NJCAA. Prior to the 2009 season, Hatch was eighth in wins among all NJCAA Division 1 active volleyball coaches. She captured 347 wins in fourteen years at TJC with a .602 winning percentage. Including her high school coaching career, Coach Hatch has won over 600 volleyball matches.

All-Americans coached by Hatch include Angela Robinson (honorable mention, 2009), Leticia Kuhn (1st team, 2007), and Felicia Thompson (honorable mention, 2002).

She won two Conference Championships (2002,2007), and one Regional Championship (2002). Coach Hatch’s 2002-2003 squad was her most successful team on the court, winning the District Title and advancing to the NJCAA Division I National Tournament. The squad finished with a 41-13 record, which still ranks as the most wins in a season in school history.

“I couldn’t have picked a better place or people to have spent the final years of my career. I believe Tyler Junior College allowed me to be the best possible coach that I could be.” Hatch said.

“I deeply respect the job that Coach Hatch has done for Tyler Junior College and our athletic program,” said Athletic Director Dr. Tim Drain. “She brought a tremendous amount of passion and fire to her job, and she loved working for TJC. She obviously succeeded on the court, but her influence off the court with her players and the life lessons that she taught is what I will always remember and value. I wish Dana and her husband Larry all the best in their future endeavors, including continuing their Trail Creek Christmas Tree farm in Lindale (trailcreekfarmfun.com).”

Hatch served as teacher and coach at Chapel Hill High School during the 1995-96 school year. She previously served as teacher and coach at Austin High School in Austin, 1992-95; and as teacher and coach at Tascosa High School, Amarillo, 1979-1992.

She was named the Mizuno Coach of the Year and the Austin American-Statesman Coach of the Year in 1992; was the Texas Girls Coaches Association All Star Coach in 1985 and 1988, was the Texas Girls Coaches Association volleyball chairman in 1990. She was the Texas Girls Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 1992-93. Hatch was honored with a Special Achievement Award by the Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame in 1980 and 1982, and has served as clinic speaker and volleyball camp clinician for a host of clinics and coaches associations.

Dana Hatch Tyler Junior College Record Through the Years

1996-1997 3-17
1997-1998 17-18
1998-1999 27-14
1999-2000 29-17
2000-2001 29-17
2001-2002 37-16
2002-2003 41-13
2003-2004 27-19
2004-2005 22-18
2005-2006 25-22
2006-2007 22-21
2007-2008 34-6
2008-2009 15-16
2009-2010 19-15

TOTAL 347-229