Mary Kilarsky-Hanycz served as Caldwell College head volleyball coach in 1980 and 1981. She is a trailblazing athlete and coach whose career spans over five decades of competitive volleyball. Her journey began with the Ukrainian American Youth Association in Parma, Ohio, and progressed to Parma Senior High School, where she excelled alongside other Ukrainian-American athletes. Despite the initial absence of a women’s program at Cleveland State University (CSU), she competed with the STV Cleveland Turners and a Lithuanian club, winning several USVBA Region 4 titles. In 1972, her persistence led CSU to establish its first women’s volleyball team, where she served as the inaugural captain and led the squad to an impressive 11–2 record.
Transitioning into coaching and elite play, Mary served as the head coach at Temple University, securing a 17–4 record and back-to-back Philadelphia A Division titles. Her personal competitive career reached new heights with the Staten Island and Green Valley Coal Co. teams, dominating the East Coast and competing at the National level. Notably, from 1974 to 1976, she captained the USA East squad in international matches against countries like West Germany and France. She further solidified her elite status by participating in the 1975 U.S. National Team trials in Reno, Nevada.
Throughout the late 1970s and 80s, Mary’s coaching influence expanded to Rutgers University, Kean College, and several high schools in Ohio, where she led teams to sectional and regional championships. She also demonstrated versatility by working as an instructor at Pelé’s Soccer Camps in 1978 and 1979. Her dedication to the sport remains active today; since 2011, she has served as an official for the Ohio High School Athletic Association. This longevity reflects a lifelong commitment to the technical and competitive growth of volleyball.
She is a 2026 inductee into the Ukranian Sports Hall of Fame.
