March 30, 2004

VILLANOVA, PA. - Villanova University named Gilad Doron as the new volleyball head coach today. Doron replaces Allison Keeley who coached the Wildcats for three years before taking the head coaching position at UNLV.

"I'm very excited," Doron said. "This is a great opportunity for me and will also be a tremendous experience for the team and the university. I think it will be a good combination that hopefully we can bring great success to the volleyball team and the university."

Doron comes to the Wildcats after founding the Philadelphia Volleyball Academy, a nationally-ranked volleyball club that has five teams comprised of players aged 14-18. He supervised a coaching staff of eight and provided guidance on implementing strategies and team goals.

Prior to starting the Philadelphia Volleyball Academy, Doron served as the head girl's volleyball coach at the Synergy Volleyball Club in Philadelphia for three years, where he worked with players aged 15-18 on a nationally-ranked club squad.

While at Synergy, Doron coached a team of National Championship Qualifiers in 2001-02 and the 18 and under team earned a No. 12 national ranking in 2002. His compiled an overall record of 100-27 during that time.

Doron started his Philadelphia-area coaching career in 1996 as an assistant coach at Temple University. During his five seasons at Temple, the Owls won three Atlantic-10 Tournament Championships and made three NCAA Tournament appearances.

Doron's coaching career began in Israel as the head men's volleyball coach of the Mate Ahser Professional Volleyball Club. He helped guide National Team Players from Israel, the Czech Republic, Romania and Croatia. His team was an Israel Cup Finalist in 1995 and a European League Qualifier in 1996.

A graduate of Temple, Doron resides in Havertown with his wife Jennifer.