Marshall Hiring
By Shane Darling, FM88 Sports
Feb. 5, 2025
HUNTINGTON, W. Va. (WMUL-FM) — Marshall volleyball makes a huge announcement Wednesday morning, as it promoted assistant coach Heather Stout to take the reins of the program.
47 days ago, 6-year head coach Ari Aganus decided to resign from the position, and that void has officially been filled with Stout.
Stout was hired before the 2024 season to be an assistant head coach after being the head coach of Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. for four years. Along with assistant coach, Stout had the role of recruiting coordinator of the squad before the promotion.
“I am overjoyed and humbled to be the head coach of Marshall University!” Stout said.
During Stout’s four years there, Catholic University improved its win total every season. In Stout’s final season of 2023, the Cardinals posted a record of 20-12, the first season since 2016 that Catholic won 20 or more games. Stout also has spent time working at DIGS Volleyball Club (age 17), Division III New York University, and Division I Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Last season, the Marshall Volleyball Team (15-14) finished last in the Sun Belt Conference East Division with a 6-10 conference record and fared poorly against fellow East Division members, going a mere 2-10. This finish resulted in the squad not making the Sun Belt Conference Tournament, as only the top 5 teams (out of 7) in each division qualified for the tournament.
“We are excited to see what Heather will accomplish with this team as our Head Coach! She has the full support of the student-athletes. She wants to be at Marshall, and she has a background that has proven to be successful for us,” said Christian Spears, the Marshall University Director of Athletics.
Stout is a native of Mt. Jackson, Va., and graduated in 2014 with a bachelor of arts degree in early education and behavioral science from Glenville State University. Stout played four seasons at the Division II Glenville State as a middle hitter. She was team captain, and was a member of the Mountain East Commissioner’s Honor Roll every season.