It was early one morning after making one priority phone call ahead of another that Beth Ann Wilson realized it was time to retire from her 30-year job as the head women’s volleyball coach at Marymount University.
That first call was regarding a real-estate client that came ahead of a recruiting call to a potential future Marymount player. In addition to coaching volleyball, Wilson recently began working part-time in real estate after getting her license.
“That was a first sign that the same passion I had for the [Marymount] job for so many years wasn’t there as much anymore,” Wilson said. “That first call of the morning should have been about finding a middle hitter for Marymount. Instead, I made a call about real estate. I don’t want to cut any corners and give the players less with the Marymount job. I hadn’t done that for 30 years.”
It wasn’t long after that morning call when Wilson decided to retire from coaching. Her last official day was March 10.
“The time is right and I feel really good about where the program is,” Wilson said. “The program is in good shape. We had another good season, won our conference and made it to the NCAAs again.”
Marymount finished 19-15 this past season and won the Atlantic East Conference for the third time in five years.
Wilson’s final career record as the Marymount coach was 521-456.
Wilson’s replacement has not been chosen.
“Marymount women’s volleyball is ready for a new leader and I am confident that the established success of the program will attract a great new head coach who will do great things,” said Wilson, who continued making recruiting calls to potential Marymount players even in her final days on the job.
Wilson inherited a Marymount program that had never finished above .500. She immediately turned the program into a contender in the Capital Athletic Conference and the Mid-Atlantic region.
During her time at Marymount, Wilson coached 52 all-conference selections, nine all-region honorees, and six All-American players.
“For the past 30 years, coach Wilson has been building and guiding our women’s volleyball program into a regional power and a well-respected program,” said Jill McCabe, Marymount’s director of athletics/assistant vice president. “Her accomplishments are impressive and her work to not only build the women’s volleyball program, but also to support the growth and success of Marymount athletics, is – and will be – appreciated for years to come.”
Wilson served on numerous conference and NCAA women’s volleyball committees while at Marymount.
During her playing days, Wilson was a middle hitter and was named the 2A California Interscholastic Federation Player of the Year in 1985 while at La Jolla High School in San Diego. She continued playing volleyball at the College of William and Mary, where she was an all-conference selection and two-time team captain.
