Eastfield Volleyball Names Starr Head Coach

MESQUITE, Texas – Dallas College Eastfield has announced Dale Starr as its next volleyball head coach.

Starr takes over the Harvester Bees' program, following four years at NCAA Division I Western Illinois University.

"I am thrilled to be named the next head volleyball coach at Dallas College Eastfield," Starr said. "Eastfield has a proud volleyball tradition with high expectations to compete for and win national championships. That is what drew me to this position – the opportunity to compete for and win on a national level." 

Starr compiled 302 head coaching wins at three different schools in 23 years at the NCAA Division I level. He has 352 wins as a college coach across four NCAA institutions.

"I think the biggest thing is his resume and his experience at the NCAA Division I level," Eastfield Athletic Director Anthony Fletcher said. "I think he'll have the tools to get those student-athletes ready for those who want to go compete at the higher level. I think it's a steal for the Dallas Athletic Conference."

Starr's teams were 37-84 in four years at Western Illinois from 2022-25. At Robert Morris University, his teams posted a 169-191 record in 12 seasons from 2010-21. Prior to RMU, he put together a 96-81 record in seven years at McNeese State University from 2004-10.

In 2019 at Robert Morris, the Colonials went 25-5, capturing the first Northeast Conference regular season title since 2008. It was the third most wins in school single season history. In 2015, Starr guided RMU to the NCAA Tournament and a 19-13 record.

At McNeese State, his teams went 57-43 in Southland Conference play. Five of his teams advanced to the conference tournament. He coached 19 players who earned All-Southland Conference Academic Team honors, and one who was a College Sports Information Directors of America Second Team Academic All-American.

"We just don't have a lot of those type of coaches at the (NJCAA) DIII level," Fletcher said. "You're talking about a seasoned veteran with 23 years of experience. Highly organized, highly trained."

Prior to his first head coaching job at the NCAA Division level, Starr was an assistant coach at the University of Tennessee at Martin from 2003-04 in his second stint at the school. He was an assistant coach at Boise State University from 2002-03. He served as the head coach at NCAA Division II Mississippi University for Women from 1999-02. His teams went 50-47 in three years at Mississippi University for Women, qualifying for the Gulf South Conference Tournament after a third place finish in the GSC West Division. There, he coached three First Team Academic All-Americans.

From 1998-99, Starr had his first stint as an assistant at Tennessee Martin. He was a volunteer assistant at the University of Northern Colorado following his time as a high school and club coach in Colorado.

"I am excited to get to campus and get to know the team and staff, and get to work," Starr said. "I want to thank Anthony Fletcher for having the faith in me to continue the championship tradition at Eastfield. I can't wait to get started."