La Crosse, Wis. - University of Wisconsin-La Crosse head volleyball coach Sheila Perkins has announced she has retired as the Eagles' coach.  She completed her 18th season as head coach in October.  Perkins will continue to teach in UW-L's Exercise and Sport Science Department.

“I'm going to narrow my focus on the academic side and concentrate on one area,” said Perkins.  “We've had great student-athletes here who have overachieved in every aspect of their collegiate life in volleyball and academics.  It's been a great run and I am honored to have been given the opportunity to work with these outstanding women.”

Perkins guided UW-L to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Tournament in four of the last nine years, including two trips to the national quarterfinals.  The Eagles finished 33-6 in 2003 as Perkins was named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Coach of the Year for the first time in her career.  She led the Eagles to a share of the school's first conference championship since 1986 and claimed their first WIAC Tournament title in school history.  

UW-L was 31-7 in 2004 and made its second consecutive appearance in the national quarterfinals before falling to Washington University (Mo.).  The Eagles finished ninth in the final 2004 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Poll.

The Eagles were 28-12 overall and 6-2 in the WIAC in 2008.  UW-L made its 12th appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament, advancing to the regional semifinals.

“Coach Perkins is concluding a remarkable coaching career here at UW-L,” said Director of Athletics Josh Whitman.  “For nearly two decades, she has provided leadership and direction to our volleyball program and influenced the lives of hundreds of student-athletes.  She has had the longest tenure, and won more matches, than any coach in our program's proud history.  Coach Perkins has been a valued member of our coaching staff and is a regular attendee at other Eagles athletic events.  In addition, she is an excellent teacher, and we are pleased that UW-L's students will continue to enjoy the benefit of her classroom instruction.  We wish Sheila all the best as she moves onto her next chapter.”

Perkins was 494-327 (.602) in 23 years as a collegiate head coach, including 392-216 (.645) in 18 seasons at UW-L.  Her 392 wins are the most in school history and rank sixth in the WIAC.  Perkins led the Eagles to 20-win seasons 14 of the last 17 years and six NCAA Division III Tournament appearances in the last 15 years.  UW-L went to post-season play in back-to-back years (1997, 1998) for the first time since the mid-'80s.

Eight UW-L players earned AVCA All-America awards under Perkins' tutelage while 25 players earned a total of 45 WIAC honors, including a pair of player of the year awards.  The Eagles also earned 18 AVCA All-Region honors.

“The game of volleyball has changed several times in my career, from side-out, to 30 points for a win, to adding the libero and now to the 25-point game,” added Perkins.  “It has really helped in the development of skills for the student-athlete.”

She has served as the director and lead instructor of summer volleyball camps at UW-L, serving between 400 and 600 local and regional high school and junior high school students.  Perkins also started the Jr. Eagle Volleyball Community Program serving over 60 individuals each spring.

The UW-L volleyball program has served the larger community under Perkins' leadership, aiding La Crosse County Health & Human Services in their Back to School Back Pack & Clothes Closet Program as well as the Kane Street Garden Harvest.  The Eagles have also participated in numerous Breast Cancer Awareness Events and the College Relay for Life since 2001.

The success continued off the court as well as the UW-L volleyball team has earned the AVCA Team Academic Award for the last 11 years, the longest active streak in NCAA Division III.  The Eagles have also had three WIAC Scholar-Athletes under Perkins.

Prior to her arrival at UW-L, Perkins posted an 86-83 record in five seasons at the University of Minnesota-Morris.  Perkins led the Cougars to a 28-11 record in 1992 to advance to the NAIA I District 13 playoffs.  She rebuilt a program which suffered through a 6-26 record her first season.  She also served as head softball coach.

Other collegiate head coaching experience included a two-year stint at the University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D., from 1980-82.  She posted a 16-28 mark in two seasons.  Perkins also served as head volleyball, basketball and softball coach at Rainy River Community College in International Falls, Minn., where she compiled a 35-90-9 volleyball record in five seasons.

“I started coaching when there was not a high school state tournament for girls in any sport,” said Perkins. “It has been gratifying to see the growth of women's sports and the opportunities that are now available to girls and women, but there is still work to be done.”

She spent four years coaching in the prep ranks in the Cottonwood Public School system as head coach of the volleyball, basketball and track programs.

In 34 years as a volleyball head coach at all levels, Perkins has compiled a career record of 561-429.

The Menoken, N.D., native earned a bachelor's degree in physical education, health and coaching from North Dakota State University in 1974.  In 1983, she received a master's degree in education and health, physical education and recreation from Northern State University, where she served as graduate assistant coach in volleyball, basketball and softball.

Perkins is a member of AAPHERD and the American Volleyball Coaches' Association.