Submitted by Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy
BOALSBURG — The Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy administration and Board of Trustees recently announced the hiring of Tod McPherson as the new head coach of the SJCA girls volleyball team.
He began coaching volleyball in 1984 at Windsor High School, New York, taking the boys volleyball team to the sectional semi-final in his first year. In 1985, he took a teaching position at State College High Area High School and began the school’s boys volleyball program.
Starting in 1987, the SCASH boys team was ranked in the top 20 in Pennsylvania and won three PIAA district championships from 1991 to 1993. In 1988, McPherson began assisting with the SCAHS girls volleyball team and in 1999 was appointed the head coach. The girls volleyball team won the PIAA district title in 2001.
“I believe there was some divine intervention that brought me to St. Joe’s in the summer of 2023,” McPherson said. “God has presented me with another opportunity to use my talents to try and help the students.”
In addition to being the SJCA girls volleyball head coach, McPherson is a chemistry teacher at Saint Joseph’s.
“My being on the faculty of the school, and seeing the players on a daily basis, will allow me to connect with each player and help them grow as a person and as a volleyball player,” McPherson said.
“My goals are simple. Work hard and have fun — in that order,” he said. “I would like to see the team and its members get stronger and quicker. But above all, I want each player and the team to improve each day, to be better at the end of the season than it was at the beginning.
“Looking at league play, my goal is to make us more competitive and have other teams think of us as a challenge to play against,” McPherson said.
McPherson is a founding and lifetime member of the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association and is a certified Level 1 USA Volleyball coach.
The SJCA Athletic Program offers competitive PIAA teams for cross country, girls volleyball, basketball, soccer, baseball, softball and track and field, and competes in the Tri-Valley Athletic Association. More information about the SJCA Athletic Program can be found at stjoeacad.org or by contacting the school at athletics@sjcacademy.org.
