Coaching Staff

Head Coach | Joe Sussenguth

Joe Sussenguth enters his sixth season as the head coach of the Minnesota Morris volleyball program in 2023.

In Sussenguth's first season as the Morris volleyball head coach, the Cougars finished the year with an overall record of 23-12 and a conference record of 13-3. They followed that up by winning their first UMAC Tournament title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Individually for the Cougars in 2018, Layne Herrmann (First Team), Rachel Mathias (Second Team) and Morgan Miller (Second Team) were named All-UMAC.

The 2019 campaign ended with a 16-12 overall record, a three-way split of the UMAC regular season title and a berth in the UMAC Tournament. Five Cougars ended with All-UMAC honors, including Herrmann and Miller on the First Team along with Brenna Tinjum, Tori Everson on the Second Team and Alyssa Ukestad earning honorable mention.

During a shortened 2020-21 season, Minnesota Morris reached the championship match of the UMAC Tournament and had four All-UMAC honorees. The Cougars once again reached the UMAC championship match in 2021, putting five on the All-UMAC teams.

Prior to arriving at Minnesota Morris, Sussenguth spent 12 seasons as head volleyball coach at Ridgewater College (Willmar, Minn.), building the Warriors into a national power. He guided Ridgewater to three National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division III national championships and seven national tournament appearances while amassing an astounding record of 329-86 (.793). His teams won 10 Minnesota College Athletic Conference Southern Division titles, reached the regional championship match each season, and he coached 23 NJCAA Division III All-Americans.

Sussenguth knows Minnesota high school volleyball success as well having built an impressive record of 121-20-3 (.844) in his five years as Minneota High School's head volleyball coach. He guided the Vikings to four Minnesota State High School League Class A State Tournament appearances, including runner-up finishes in 2001 and 2005.

Sussenguth earned an AA degree at Ridgewater College and a BA with a major in history at Southwest Minnesota State University. He completed his master's degree at Bemidji State University in education with a sports studies emphasis. In addition to his head coaching roles, Sussenguth has directed youth volleyball camps, clinics, and tournaments; served as an instructor for USA Volleyball and university camps and clinics; and directed club volleyball programs.

Bio coming soon!