UMSL Sports Hall of Fame
COACH (Volleyball)
Denise Silvester is the longest-tenured volleyball coach in program history, serving on the sidelines from 1986-2003. She posted a career record of 403-250 (.617 winning percentage) and had 12 winning seasons in her 18 years. In her first season (1986), Silvester led UMSL to a 28-14 record and a second place finish in the MIAA after the team had gone 9-34 the previous year. For her efforts, she was named the MIAA Coach of the Year. In her second season (1987), Silvester led UMSL to a 49-4 record, a program-best win total. In 1991, she directed the program to its first NCAA Tournament appearance along with its first-ever top-20 national ranking. They finished with a 29-11 record, the second-most wins in a season. Silvester also took the 1995 team to the NCAA Tournament during their last year in the MIAA.
