MACOMB, Ill. - Mallory Clements, a former SIU-Edwardsville volleyball standout and assistant coach, has been named assistant volleyball coach. Tenth-year Western Illinois head coach Kym McKay announced the hiring Monday.

Clements comes to Macomb from SIU-Edwardsville, where she spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach under former Cougar head coach Todd Gober. Clements was highly involved in day-to-day administrative duties including coordinating travel, fundraising efforts, recruiting and organizing practices. Clements also served as interim head coach for a short time before the Cougars named Leah Johnson head coach in April.

"Mallory's experience at another Illinois state institution is a huge bonus," said McKay. "She is very familiar with the policies and procedures that we follow. Her most recent experience as an interim head coach exposed her to that next level of administrative work. I look forward to Mallory's smooth transition to her duties at Western Illinois."

Prior to her coaching career, Clements played four seasons with the Cougars from 2005-08 and served as team captain for her final two years. Clements, a native of Mt. Pulaski, Ill., was named to the 2007 American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America third team for her efforts on the court. As the Cougars' starting setter, Clements broke the school record for service aces (189) and ranks second all-time in assists (4,311) and digs (1,459).

"Though she was a setter, she prefers to train middle hitters and enjoys the nuances of offensive systems and transition," said McKay. "She is familiar with the Illinois area for recruiting with ties to the central and southern portions of the state. Though she has donned the Red and Black for the last six years, she is ready for the Purple and Gold."

Clements also excelled off the court, where she was a two-time first team ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-America selection. Clements earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and an MBA at SIUE.

"Mallory exudes a maturity beyond her years and the knowledge she gained while earning her MBA makes her a great asset to this program," added McKay. "She will balance the player-coach relationship well and her business education will come through in her administrative work."

What they are saying about Clements ...

Dr. Brad Hewitt, SIUE Director of Athletics

"Mallory is an extremely bright and hardworking person, who matriculated from an outstanding student-athlete, to become our team captain, a graduate assistant and then full-time coach. Mallory did an outstanding job in an interim role for nearly 5 months after our head coach resigned. She managed camps, fundraising and maintained the programs integrity, knowing that the likely hood that the new coach probably would not keep her. This demonstrated great class, character and integrity."

"Like all us, there becomes a time to leave our alma mater and venture into the professional world. Her time is now, I am extremely happy that she will begin her career under the leadership and guidance of Coach McKay and Dr. (Tim M.) Van Alstine. If Mallory were my own daughter I could not asked for a better start in a professional coaching career then under these two outstanding people. Mallory will be a great fit and work hard for WIU."

Todd Gober, head volleyball coach at SIUE from 2001-2010. Clements played and coached under Gober.

"Mallory will make an immediate impact at Western Illinois. She will bring fresh ideas to a terrific program run by a great coach in Kym McKay. She will be a tremendous asset in recruiting as she is very familiar with central Illinois and the Chicagoland area. We recruited the same areas as WIU at SIUE and Mallory will complement Kym tremendous in that aspect."

"Mallory is very passionate about volleyball and that enthusiasm for the game will definitely have a positive effect on the Western Illinois program. She is an extremely well organized and intelligent coach who leads by example. She brings high energy every day and truly runs a great practice."

"Mallory will fit in very well at Western Illinois and is in a fantastic position to learn a lot from Kym. She has a wonderful opportunity to soak up knowledge from a well-respected and accomplished coach in the college ranks. During her time at SIUE, Mallory had a fantastic rapport with the student-athletes and mentored a lot of my athletes. I am positive she will do the same as a Leatherneck."