BROOKLYN, N.Y. — St. Joseph's University, New York – Brooklyn has announced the hiring of Antonio Mihail as the new head coach of its women's volleyball program. Mihail, a seasoned educator, coach, and NCAA-certified volleyball official, brings over a decade of volleyball experience and a proven track record in developing student-athletes both on and off the court.
"We are pleased to welcome Antonio as our next head women's volleyball coach. His approach to developing our student-athletes holistically resonated with our search committee, and we are excited for him to lead our program," stated Megan Valentine, Director of Athletics and Recreation. "The team is on the rise and we're looking forward to all that he will accomplish with a talented incoming class and veteran leaders returning!"
"I'm honored to join the St. Joseph's University – Brooklyn community and lead the women's volleyball program," remarked Mihail. "My goal is to create a positive, competitive environment where the team can grow both on and off the court. We have a strong mix of returning players and new talent, and I'm looking forward to building something special together."
Mihail joins the Bears after four years at Grover Cleveland High School in Ridgewood, N.Y., where he led the girls' junior varsity volleyball team from 2022-23 before leading the girls' varsity squad from 2023-25. In that role, he emphasized technical skill-building, tactical awareness, and fostering team cohesion, while also launching a year-round volleyball club, organizing fundraising tournaments, and collaborating closely with staff, parents, and administration to support student-athlete success.
Mihail's coaching background includes leadership roles as the boys' varsity volleyball head coach at The Churchill School and Center and head coach of the boys' 18s travel team at the NYC Impact Volleyball Club. In addition, he has officiated in numerous leagues in the New York City area and served as a line judge for NCAA Division I women's volleyball matches. Before entering the coaching and officiating ranks, Mihail was an outside hitter on the Binghamton University club team.
Mihail holds a B.A. in Adolescent Education in Social Studies, an M.S.Ed. in School Counseling, and an Advanced Certificate in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) from Hunter College. He also maintains professional certifications in Social Studies 7–12, ESOL, and provisional certification as a school counselor. He currently serves as a school counselor at Forest Hills High School, where he supports English-language learners from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
Mihail enters the 2025 season with a commitment to enhancing the women's volleyball program and leading the Bears toward long-term success in the Skyline Conference. The campaign opens on Saturday, August 30, with a tri-match at Wilkes University, where St. Joseph's will face Rutgers–Newark at 12 p.m. before taking on the host Colonels at 2 p.m.
