Todd Dagenais

ORLANDO, Fla. — Todd Dagenais has been rewarded for leading Central Florida University’s women’s volleyball program to one of its best seasons in history.

Dagenais, a native of Escanaba, has signed a two-year contract extension that will keep him with the Knights through 2023.

“For more than a decade, Todd has elevated our volleyball program to new heights,” said vice president and director of athletics Danny White. He pointed out the Knights have “some of the best GPAs in the athletic department.”

Last season the Knights finished 27-4 and won the American Athletic Conference with an 18-0 record for its second league title in five years. They had a 24-game win streak, longest in the program’s Division 1 history.

Dagenais was named The American coach of the year for the second time.

The Knights, who upset then-No. 7 USC, were ranked in the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll for the first time, rising as high as No. 21 and finished No. 25.

Senior libero Jordan Pingel and freshman outside hitter McKenna Melville earned All-America honors and Melville was the league’s freshman of the year.

Dagenais thanked White and sports supervisor Brad Stricklin for their support of the volleyball program.

“Our ability to grow over the past decade is the direct result of their support, the hard work of a selfless staff and players who share a common goal and vision,” he said. “I’m proud to be the leader of this program.”

Dagenais finished his 11th season at UCF by improving his career record to 212-140 and is the winningest coach in the program’s D-1 history. He is 25 wins shy of breaking the program’s all-time record of 236 wins held by Lucy McDaniels.

He has led the programto gain national recognition with nine All-America selections, 12 regional picks, one AAC player of the year and 19 all-conference choices.