SMSU Athletics

> Culhane vs. Opponents

Terry Culhane, the program’s all-time leader in victories, enters his 18th season as head coach at Southwest Minnesota State University in 2021. The 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19.

A native of Marshall and graduate of SMSU, Culhane has cemented his status as an icon on the Minnesota and NCAA volleyball scene with his success at both the prep and collegiate levels.

During his 17 seasons as a collegiate head coach, Culhane has directed the Mustangs to an overall record of 431-124 (.777), including 258-66 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play. SMSU made 15 NCAA tournament appearances, which includes 11 NCAA region semifinal appearances, three NCAA region championship appearances and one NCAA national runner-up finish.

He begins the 2021 season as the 14th winningest coach in Division II history in winning percentage, while his 410 victories ranks among the Top 25 for active Division II head coaches. 
 
SMSU won at least 18 matches every season under Culhane, including winning 25 or more in 13 of 17 seasons. The Mustangs won two NSIC regular season titles and captured two NSIC tournament championships during his tenure. SMSU also finished third or higher in the rugged NSIC regular season standing 13 times, including six second place finishes. SMSU was ranked in the AVCA Top 25 poll for 200 of 201 polls dating from Sept. 5, 2006 to the final 2021 rankings. 

Culhane, a four-time NSIC Coach of the Year honoree, has coached 27 AVCA All-Americans, 24 AVCA first team All-Region honorees, five AVCA Region Freshmen of the Year, six NSIC Freshman/Newcomers of the Year, five NSIC Players of the Year, 43 All-NSIC first team honorees, four CoSIDA Academic All-Americans and one AVCA Freshman of the Year.
 
During Culhane’s tenure, outside hitter Taylor Reiss was a two-time AVCA National Player of the Year (2017 & 2018) award winner and was recognized following the 2018-19 academic year as the NCAA Division II Honda Female Athlete of the Year.
 
After enjoying unparalleled success coaching high school volleyball for 22 seasons, Culhane returned to his alma mater on Jan. 22, 2004, when he was named the fourth head coach in the program’s history.
 
In his first season as head coach in 2004, Culhane led SMSU to a 22-10 overall record and a second place finish in the conference standings. The squad also advanced to the conference tournament championship match for the first time ever and qualified for the program’s second-ever NCAA tournament appearance.
 
In 2005, SMSU became a major player on the national scene, finishing with a 26-8 overall record, advanced to the NCAA tournament and won the program’s first ever NCAA tournament match. The 26 victories was the most ever by an SMSU team since moving to NCAA Division II in 1995 and the highest by an SMSU squad since the 1991 team won 30 matches. SMSU also appeared in the AVCA Top 25 national poll for three weeks, becoming the first Mustang squad to do so in school history. For his efforts, Culhane was named the 2005 NSIC Co-Coach of the Year.
 
In 2006, SMSU set a school record with a 27-9 overall record as well as setting a school record with a 12-match winning streak. The Mustangs finished third in the NSIC standings and made their third NCAA tournament appearance.
 
The 2007 season saw even more success as Culhane coached the Mustangs to a 26-8 overall record and a second place finish in the NSIC. Highlighting the season was SMSU’s 3-2 victory over eventual national champion Concordia-St. Paul, ending CSP’s 69-match conference winning streak. For the fourth season in a row, Culhane’s squad advanced to the NCAA tournament before falling to Concordia in the region semifinals. Senior Erin Contons was named first team All-America following the season, SMSU’s first since joining NCAA.
 
SMSU put together an even better season in 2008, finishing 28-6 overall and a second place finish in a newly expanded NSIC. The Mustangs also matched the 2006 squad's record of a 12-match winning streak. Another NCAA tournament appearance was added to the books with SMSU advancing to the region semifinals. The Mustangs were mainstays on the national poll, checking in as high as No. 3 on Oct. 27—the highest at the time—in school history. Culhane had a pair of players land on the AVCA All-America team as senior Kasey Loeslie was third team honoree, while  freshman Devin Diedrich received an honorable mention accolades.
 
Culhane led the Mustangs to another big season in 2009, finishing 25-8 and making its sixth straight NCAA tournament appearance. Culhane once again produced an AVCA third team All-America player in Devin Diedrich, while freshman Mary Groth was named NSIC Freshman of the Year.

In 2010, SMSU finished 27-4, was ranked as high as No. 2 in the national poll and for the first time in program history hosted the NCAA Central Region Tournament. Culhane produced four more All-Americans during the season with Devin Diedrich being named to AVCA first team All-America and Daktronics second team All-America. Brooke Burmeister and Mary Groth were both named AVCA third team All-America, while Cara Carson was named AVCA honorable mention All-America. Diedrich was also named the NSIC Offensive Player of the Year.
 
Culhane led SMSU to another first during the 2011 season, guiding the Mustangs to the NCAA region championship match for the first time in program history and finishing with a 25-7 record. SMSU ended the season ranked No. 8 in the country, while three players, Mary Groth, Brooke Burmeister and Cara Carson all earning All-American accolades.
 
In 2012, Culhane guided the Mustangs to a record-breaking season as SMSU won a school-record 19 straight matches during the season and claimed the No. 1 ranking in the AVCA Top 25 poll for the first time in school history. SMSU won 30 matches—their highest total in the Division II era—and the highest total since 1991. Culhane was named the NSIC Coach of the Year as SMSU won the NSIC regular season title for the first time since 2001 and also captured the NSIC Tournament championship for the first time ever. Emilee Gutzmer (second team), Brooke Burmeister (honorable mention) and Mary Groth (honorable mention) all earned ACVA All-America honors, while Gutzmer was named the NSIC Freshman of the Year.
 
SMSU recorded 24 victories in 2013, won an NCAA Tournament match and placed third in the NSIC standings with 17 victories. Abbey Thissen was named AVCA honorable mention All-American.
 
The 2014 season was one of the most memorable in school history as SMSU won the NCAA Central Region championship for the first time in program history and advanced to the NCAA national championship match before falling to the University of Tampa. It was SMSU’s 12th straight season of at least 20 wins and its 11th consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament. SMSU finished the season 26-10 overall and on its way to winning the region championship, snapped Concordia-St. Paul’s 43 post-season match winning streak in the region semifinals. Abbey Thissen was an AVCA second team All-America, while Eisha Oden was named the NSIC Freshman of the Year.
 
Culhane became the school’s all-time winningest coach during the 2015 season. He earned career win 309 on Nov. 7 with a sweep over Upper Iowa, surpassing Deb Denbeck (1985-2002). The Mustangs earned their 12th straight season of at least 20 wins and its 12th straight appearance in the NCAA tournament during the season. SMSU finished the season 26-6 overall and finished third in the NSIC with a 17-3 loop record. Taylor Reiss was honored as the NSIC and AVCA Central Region Freshman of the Year, while Abbey Thissen closed her career earning AVCA third team All-American honors. 

Culhane was named the NSIC Coach of the Year for a fourth time in 2016 leading the squad to the NSIC regular season championship and advancing to NCAA Central Region Tournament championship match. The Mustangs finished the 2016 season with 28 victories and finished ranked second in the final AVCA Top 25 poll. Taylor Reiss was named the NSIC Player of the Year and was named AVCA first team All-American, while Eisha Oden (second team) and Megan Larson (third team) also earned AVCA All-American honors.
 
Culhane led SMSU to a second place NSIC finish in 2017 and the program’s second NSIC Tournament Championship with a sweep over top-seeded Concordia-St. Paul. SMSU won 29 matches and was rewarded by hosting the 2017 NCAA Central Region Tournament before falling in the region semifinals. Reiss was named the NSIC Player of the Year and AVCA National Player of the Year, Megan Larson was named AVCA second team All-American, while Brooke Burmeister and Kaylee Burmeister were both named AVCA honorable mention All-Americans.

SMSU won a combined 41 matches the past two seasons in 2018-19, including making its 15th NCAA Tournament appearance in 2018. Reiss was once again named NSIC Player of the Year and AVCA National Player of the Year following the 2018 season.

In his final season as head coach in 2021, Culhane took a team that was unranked in the AVCA preseason poll and led SMSU to a 21-8 overall record and tied for fifth in the conference standings. He coached a pair of All-NSIC first team and All-Region honorees in Meg Schmidt and Angela Young. 

Culhane came to SMSU after spending four seasons as head girls’ volleyball coach at Marshall High School compiling a record of 95-32. During his tenure at Marshall, the Tigers made three Minnesota Class AAA state tournament appearances, including a runner-up finish in 2002, in which he was named the 2002 Minnesota Class AAA Coach of the Year. In Culhane’s final season in 2003, the Tigers finished ranked No. 1 in the final regular season state poll before earning a sixth place at the Minnesota Class AAA state tournament.

He started his girls’ volleyball head coaching career at Milroy High School in 1979. He led Milroy to a sixth place finish in the state tournament in 1983 and a fifth place finish in 1984.

In 1986, he was named head girls’ volleyball coach at Tracy-Milroy High School and in the next 11 seasons, guided the Panthers to 10 state tournament appearances, including state championship squads in 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995 and 1996. Tracy-Milroy also finished as state runners-up in 1991 and earned third place finishes in 1986, 1988 and 1993. He was named Minnesota Class A State Coach of the Year in 1992, 1994, 1995 and 1996.
 
A five-time Minnesota State Volleyball Coach of the Year honoree, Culhane finished with an impressive record of 519-112 in 22 seasons as a high school volleyball head coach. His teams appeared in 15 state tournaments with six state championships.

An inductee into both the Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and Minnesota Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame, Culhane also had tremendous success as a high school girls’ basketball coach. Named head coach at Marshall High School in 1997, he led the Tigers to three state tournament appearances, including a pair of state championships in 2001 and 2002. He was named Minnesota Class AAA Coach of the Year in 2000, 2001 and 2002.

Before taking over at Marshall, he led Tracy-Milroy High School girls’ basketball to a pair of Minnesota Class A state championships in both 1992 and 1996. Prior to Tracy-Milroy, he was head girls’ basketball coach at Milroy High School where his 1985 squad placed second at the state tournament while he earned Minnesota Outstate Coach of the Year accolades.

He has also had an outstanding career as a Junior Olympic volleyball head coach, leading the Southwest Minnesota Juniors to a fifth place finish at the National Open Division Tournament in 1998 and an eighth place finish at the 1999 Club Division National Tournament.
 
On the basketball court, he led the North Tartan AAU squad to the Division I National Championship in 2003, while in 2002 the team finished in third place.

Culhane is a 1978 graduate of SMSU with a degree in elementary education, physical education and health. While at SMSU, he spent time on both the Mustang baseball and basketball squads. He earned his master’s degree from SMSU in 2000 in education leadership.

Terry and his wife Sandy live in Marshall and have two daughters, Ashley and Allison.

Culhane Coaching Honors
Volleyball

• 2016 NSIC Coach of the Year
• 2012 NSIC Coach of the Year
• 2007 NSIC Coach of the Year
• 2005 NSIC Co-Coach of the Year
• 2002 Minnesota Class AAA Coach of the Year
• 1996 Minnesota Class A Coach of the Year
• 1995 Minnesota Class A Coach of the Year
• 1994 Minnesota Class A Coach of the Year
• 1992 Minnesota Class A Coach of the Year

Basketball

• 2002 Minnesota Class AAA Coach of the Year
• 2001 Minnesota Class AAA Coach of the Year
• 2000 Minnesota Class AAA Coach of the Year
• 1985 Minnesota Outstate Coach of the Year

Culhane Hall of Fame Inductions/Distinctions

• 2012 - Named one of the top five head girls' basketball coaches in Minnesota State history by the MSHSL
• 2004 - Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame
• 1997 - Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame
• 2003 - Southwest Minnesota State Alumni Achievement Award
• 1993 - Southwest Minnesota State Athletics Department Excellence in Coaching Award

Volleyball

--Southwest Minnesota State University (2004-present)

• 2018, NCAA Tournament region quarterfinals  
• 2017, NSIC Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament region semifinals, SMSU hosted NCAA Central Region Tournament 
• 2016, NSIC Co-Regular Season Champions, NCAA Central Region Championship
• 2015, NCAA Tournament region semifinals
• 2014, NCAA National Championship Runner-Up
• 2013, NCAA Tournament regional semifinals
• 2012, NSIC Tri-Champions, NSIC Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament region semifinals
• 2011, NCAA Tournament region championship
• 2010, NCAA Tournament region semifinals, SMSU hosted NCAA Central Region Tournament
• 2009, NCAA Tournament region quarterfinals
• 2008, NCAA Tournament region semifinals
• 2007, NCAA Tournament region semifinals
• 2006, NCAA Tournament region quarterfinals
• 2005, NCAA Tournament region semifinals
• 2004, NCAA Tournament region quarterfinals

• 2003, Minnesota Class AAA State tournament sixth place
• 2002, Minnesota Class AAA State tournament second place
• 2001, Minnesota Class AAA State tournament fifth place
• 2000, Minnesota Section 2AAA Runner-up

--Tracy-Milroy High School (1986-1996)

• 1996, Minnesota Class A State Champions
• 1995, Minnesota Class A State Champions
• 1994, Minnesota Class A State Champions
• 1993, Minnesota Class A State Tournament third place
• 1992, Minnesota Class A State Champions
• 1991, Minnesota Section 3A Runner-up
• 1990, Minnesota Class A State Champions
• 1989, Minnesota Class A State Tournament fourth place
• 1988, Minnesota Class A State Tournament third place
• 1987, Minnesota Class A State Tournament fifth place
• 1986, Minnesota Class A State Tournament third place

--Milroy High School (1979-1985)

• 1984, Minnesota Class A State Tournament fifth place
• 1983, Minnesota Class A State Tournament third place

--Southwest Minnesota Juniors (1998-99)

• 1999, National Tournament (club division) eighth place
• 1998, National Tournament fifth place

Basketball
--Marshall High School (1997-2004)

• 2002, Minnesota Class AAA State Champions
• 2001, Minnesota Class AAA State Champions
• 2000, Minnesota AAA State Tournament third place

--Tracy-Milroy High School (1990-96)

• 1996, Minnesota Class A State Champions
• 1995, Minnesota Class A State Tournament third place
• 1992, Minnesota Class A State Champions

--Milroy High School (1979-1985)

• 1985, Minnesota Class A State Tournament Runner-up

--North Tartan AAU (2002-03)

• 2003, Division I National Tournament Champions
• 2002, Division I National Tournament third place