Bio

Neil Pitman is in his eleventh season as the women’s volleyball coach at Emmaus in 2021-22.

• NCCAA DII National Coach of the Year - 2018
• NCCAA DII North Region Coach of the Year - 2018
• NCCAA II National Tournament Appearances - 2017 & 2018

Why play Emmaus Volleyball?

Our team strives to be the best we can be with the gifts we have been given.  We believe in working hard, and doing things the right way – there are no shortcuts to success.  Striving for on-court success is important, but we realize that success does not come from the scoreboard alone.  Spiritual growth and relationships are what our athletes will carry with them when they leave Emmaus.  The banners and the record books will fade, so we need to remember that only the things of eternal value ultimately matter.

Why are you coaching at Emmaus?

I love to see players grow, not only on the court, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.  I believe that the growth process is important, and I that athletics at Emmaus can help guide our student athletes in their spiritual walk.

What is a meaningful Bible verse to you?

Philippians 2:1-4 has been a key passage for our program here at Emmaus.  Christ is the ultimate example of humility, and we as His followers are called to love each other and value others above ourselves.

Coaching Highlights

• Head Coach: Emmaus Bible College, 2009-2012, 2015-present (9 years)
• Team accomplishments:
  • NCCAA National Tournament – Final Four (2018)
  • NCCAA National Tournament Qualifier (2018, 2017)
  • Champions – MCCC Tournament (2018, 2017)
  • Champions – MCCC Regular Season (2018, 2017)
  • Third Place – ACCA National Tournament (2016)
  • Semifinal appearance – ACCA National Tournament (2016, 2015, 2012, 2010)
  • Runner Up – MCCC Regular Season (2019, 2016)
  • Runner Up – MCCC Tournament (2019, 2016)
• Individual awards for yourself as a coach:
  • 2018 NCCAA DII National Coach of the Year
  • 2018 NCCAA DII North Region Coach of the Year
• Awards that your players have earned with you as their coach:
  • NCCAA National Player of the Year – 1
  • NCCAA North Region Player of the Year – 1
  • AVCA All-Americans – 3
  • NCCAA All-Americans – 3
  • MCCC Conference MVP – 2
  • MCCC First Team All-Conference – 12
  • NCCAA Scholar Athletes – 10
  • ACCA All-Americans – 6
  • NCCAA Scholar Athletes – 10
  • ACCA Scholar Athletes – 8

• High School Coaching Experience
  • Tri-State Christian School, Galena, IL
    • Head Varsity Coach (2003 - 2008)
    • Assistant Varsity Coach (2001 - 2002)
  • Team accomplishments:
    • 3rd Place, NACA National Tournament  (2004)
    • 2nd Place, ACSI Illinois State Tournament (2005)
    • 4th Place, ACSI Tri-State (IA/IL/WI) Tournament (2008)
    • 2nd Place, ACSI Illinois Mid-America Regionals (2005)
    • Champions, NICC Conference Tournament (2005,2004)
    • Champions, Unity Christian Invitational (2005,2004)
    • Christian Character Award, TSCS Invitational (2007)
  • Players who went on to compete at the college level:
    • Post-secondary athletes – 7
    • All-Conference 1st Team Players – 6
    • All-Conference 2nd Team Players – 8
    • All-National Team Players – 2

• Coaching certifications / training:
  • Coaching Authorization, Iowa Department of Education
  • Art of Coaching Volleyball Coaching Clinic
  • University of Iowa Hawkeye Volleyball Coaches Clinic (x 3)
  • Sheriff’s Volleyball Coaching Clinic

Personal Life

• Spouse: Beth
• Children names: Iain, Liam
• Employer: Medline Industries
• Home church: Hope Church
• College/s attended: Emmaus Bible College, Graduated in 2002
• Degree/s earned: Computer Information Systems
• Church/Community involvements: Adult Worship Team, Kids’ Music Program, Life Group

Full Bio

Neil Pitman is in his eleventh season as the women’s volleyball coach at Emmaus.

Coach Pitman strives to develop teams that represent the Lord and Emmaus well, are unified and gracious, and are Christ-focused instead of self-focused. The Lady Eagles volleyball team passage is Philippians 2:1-4:

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

In his tenure at Emmaus, Pitman has helped the Lady Eagles become competitive in the NCCAA and the Midwest Christian College Conference.  Coach Pitman has a 133-83 record at Emmaus. In his tenure at Emmaus, Pitman has helped the Lady Eagles become competitive in the NCCAA and the Midwest Christian College Conference.

Coach Pitman has a 133-83 record at Emmaus.

Emmaus Coaching Highlights:

2018: Led team to a 25-6 overall record, again going undefeated in MCCC regular season and tournament play to capture back-to-back conference regular season and tournament championships. Emmaus earned another bid to the NCCAA National Tournament (Greenville, SC) in their second season of NCCAA competition. the #4 seeded Lady Eagles made it all the way to the Final Four at the National Tournament. Coach Pitman was named the NCCAA North Region and NCCAA National Coach of the Year.

2017: Led team to a 22-5 overall record, going undefeated in MCCC regular season and tournament play to capture the conference regular season and tournament championships, a first for the program. Emmaus earned an at-large bid to the NCCAA National Tournament (Greenville, SC) in their inaugural season of NCCAA competition. The #8 seeded Lady Eagles finished the season with a 6 th place final national standing.

2016: Led team to a 16-7 overall record, and finished 2 nd in both the MCCC regular season and tournament, marking the first championship match appearance in program history. In their final season of ACCA play, Emmaus finished 3 rd at the ACCA National Tournament.

2015: Returned to Emmaus after a 2 year hiatus, inheriting a team that finished with a single win in 2014. Emmaus finished the season with a 14-14 overall record, including a 4 th place finish in the MCCC regular season and tournament, the highest to date in program history. The Lady Eagles again participated in the ACCC National Tournament, making another final four appearance.

2012: Led team to 17-8 overall record, the highest finish for the team to date. Emmaus attended the ACCA National Tournament, where they upset the number one seed to reach the semi-finals, finishing the tournament in 4 th place. Pitman resigned his position amicably at the end of the season.

2011: Led team to a 10-12 overall record. The Lady Eagles managed to defeat 5 NCCAA opponents and closed out the season with a victory on their home floor.

2010: Led team to 13-12 overall record. The Lady Eagles made their first appearance in the ACCA National Tournament, where an upset win propelled them into the semi-finals to end the season.

2009: Led team to a 4-7 overall record in the inaugural season of intercollegiate play at Emmaus. The Lady Eagles ended the first set in school history on their home floor with a win, and earned their first match victory as a program at home later in the season.

Previous Coaching Experience:

Head Coach: Tri-State Christian School (2003-08)
Assistant Coach: Tri-State Christian School (2001-02)

Prior to coming to Emmaus, Pitman led the Tri-State Christian Huskies high school varsity team to back-to-back conference tournament championships (2004, 2005); the first championship came just two years after the team had finished in last place (2002). During Pitman’s tenure Tri-State posted 4 consecutive 20+ win seasons. The Huskies also were ACSI Illinois State Tournament qualifiers for the first time in the program’s history (2005), where they finished in 2 nd place. Tri-State also performed on the national stage, as the Huskies achieved a 3 rd place finish at the NACA National Tournament (DII) in Dayton, TN (2004).

Playing Experience:

Pitman spent his high school career playing club in the USA Volleyball system, with the Dubuque Volleyball Club and Iowa Volleyball Club. Neil’s Iowa team earned a top 16 finish at the USA Volleyball Junior Olympics, as well as a 5 th place finish at the AAU National Tournament his junior year. Pitman was an all-region selection for the Iowa Volleyball Region as an outside hitter. As a freshman, Neil played with the Prairie Sabres (Three Hills, Alberta), where his team won both the District and South-Central Zone championships.

Pitman continued playing in highly competitive indoor, beach, and grass leagues and tournaments during college and beyond, until a knee injury sidelined him in 2005.

Personal and Family Notes:

Neil (Emmaus ’02) and his wife Beth (Emmaus ’03), reside in Dubuque with their two children, Iain and Liam. A native of Ontario, Canada, Pitman earned his bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems and Biblical Studies from Emmaus in 2002.