Mike Watkins
Head Coach

mwatkins@sienaheights.edu

Mike Watkins enters his fifth season as head coach of the Siena Heights men’s volleyball program, which started out as a club team in 2009, and fourth season as the Siena Heights women’s coach. He began at SHU in the fall of 2007 as an assistant coach. Since then, he became the first head coach of the Saints’ men’s volleyball program and eventually took over as head coach for the women.

In three varsity seasons with the men, Watkins has compiled a 27-43 overall record and 13-25 mark in conference play in guiding the young program. He now has the task of creating a more competitive and winning environment. Through three years of improvements, he is working towards creating a culture change, which he has done historically throughout his coaching career.

Watkins had his best year as the SHU men’s varsity coach in 2010 when the Saints finished with a 11-12 record and 6-6 slate in league action.

While guiding the team through its first four seasons, he diligently worked towards putting a competitive club on the floor in January 2009. He was able to recruit students who were already in attendance at Siena Heights while bringing in a large class of freshmen to make an immediate impact. Including the club year, Watkins’ career record as a men’s coach stands at 54-50.

During his time as head coach, SHU men’s volleyball student-athletes have garnered four All-MAMVIC First Team selection, two Second Team honors, two Honorable Mentions, 18 Academic All-MAMVIC awards and one conference Setter of the Year accolade.

In Watkins’ four seasons with the women’s team, the Saints have been racking up several accolades including the 2011 Freshman of the Year honor, one AVCA all-region honor, one All-WHAC First Team honorees, two All-WHAC honorable mentions, three All-Freshman Team mentions, 14 Academic All-WHAC awards and four NAIA Scholar-Athlete awards.

As coach of the Adrian College women’s team from 1999 to 2005, Watkins took a squad that was 13-17 in his first season to a 21-7 record in his last campaign. As a women’s volleyball coach, he has a 132-154 career record.

Watkins has a vast volleyball background including coaching experience at Adrian College, Adrian High School and Tecumseh High School.

Chelsea Tillotson
Assistant Coach

Chelsea Tillotson is in her second year as an assistant coach for the Siena Heights men's women's volleyball programs after a successful collegiate career at Duquesne (Pa.) where she majored in Sociology.

A setter for the Dukes, Tillotson earned the No. 4 ranking on the school’s all-time assists list with 2,572. As a senior, she ranked fourth in the Atlantic 10 Conference with 818 assists.

Tillotson is also a graduate of Tecumseh High School, where she earned All-Southeastern Conference, all-county, all-region and all-district accolades.

Tim O'Brien
Assistant Coach

Siena Heights men's volleyball alum Tim O'Brien has returned to campus as a graduate assistant coach for the Saints' men's and women's volleyball programs.

O'Brien, a native of Beavercreek, Ohio, and graduate of Carroll High School, is in his first season as an assistant coach after playing four years for the Saints. In three varsity seasons appeared in 189 sets and compiled 39 kills, 87 assists, 17 aces, 217 digs and 11 total blocks.

In 2011, O'Brien was head coach of the Britton-Deerfield girls' volleyball team. He has also coached two teams for the Siena Volleyball Academy.