Todd Humphry begins his 13th year as the head coach of the Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lion volleyball team ready to keep the program's tradition of success alive in 2012.
The Lady Lions are coming off one of the most successful seasons in program history, winning their fourth conference championship in the last five years and advancing to the final site of the NAIA National Tournament for the first time ever. FHU also received its first national ranking during the season, peaking at No. 21.
It was an impressive way to build on 2010, when the Lady Lions won their third TranSouth Conference tournament championship in the last four seasons and earned their second straight berth to the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round.
One year previously, the Lady Lions wrapped up their third straight regular season conference championship and followed by winning the conference tournament for the second time in the last three years, earning the program's first berth to the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round.
In 2008, FHU went 32-5 to claim its first consecutive 30-win seasons in program history and went undefeated in conference play in the regular season, becoming the first team to do that in four years.
Since 2004, few programs have been as successful as Freed-Hardeman. The Lady Lions have an astounding 211-63 record over the eight-year span, a winning percentage of 77.0 percent. In his 12 years at Freed-Hardeman University, Humphry has compiled a 277-137 record. In the last five years, Humphry has led FHU to a remarkable record of 78-12 in TranSouth Conference play during the regular season.
Lady Lion players have been well-represented in the TranSouth's post-season awards under Humphry with 47 all-conference players, four players of the year, three freshmen of the year, and one newcomer of the year. FHU has also placed eight on NAIA All-American teams in the last seven years.
In addition to the program's successes on the floor, they have had equally impressive success in the classroom. Since Humphry's arrival, the program has boasted 49 TranSouth Conference Scholar Athletes and 15 NAIA Scholar Athletes.
Before coming to Henderson, Humphry coached high school volleyball in Arkansas and Tennessee. During a seven-year stint at Harding Academy in Memphis, he led his team to six TSSAA state tournaments including a state championship in 1992.
Humphry, a 1989 graduate of Harding University in Searcy, Ark., is married to the former Susan Malone, who is the head volleyball coach at Chester County High School in Henderson. They have three children: Emily, Jared, and Allie.
