MANCHESTER, N.H. – Lauren Havill was hired as the 15^th head coach in the history of the Southern New Hampshire University women's volleyball program, Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance Nicole Ham announced Thursday. Havill will officially begin her new role March 30.
 
Havill comes to Manchester after spending the last three seasons as the head women's volleyball coach at Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, N.C. Lees-McRae is a fellow NCAA Division II member that competes in the Conference Carolinas.
 
"I am honored and grateful to be the women's volleyball head coach at Southern New Hampshire University," Havill said. "I would like to express my gratitude to [SNHU Interim Director of Athletics] Tricia Cote, Nicole Ham, and the entire search committee for their belief in my vision and for providing me with this opportunity."

"The strong foundation and resources already in place have clearly contributed to the program's past and I am excited about the opportunity to further develop the team and establish new standards of excellence. I look forward to being a people-first coach and will prioritize the experience of our student-athletes, support staff, and community."

Havill won 38 matches during her tenure with the Bobcats, including 25 in league play, as well as making a pair of appearances in the Conference Carolinas Championship.

"Lauren distinguished herself throughout the search process with her energy, vision and genuine commitment to the student-athlete experience," said Ham, chair of the search committee and women's volleyball sport supervisor. "Her strong track record in Division II and proven ability to build competitive programs while fostering a strong culture of academic success and community engagement made her the clear choice to lead our volleyball program. We are excited to welcome her to SNHU and look forward to the impact she will have on our student-athletes and the broader university community."
 
This past season, Havill guided the Bobcats to a 12-8 league mark and the No. 4 seed in the conference tournament.
 
Upon taking over prior to the 2023, Havill made an immediate impact, posting a 15-11 mark, which was the program's best overall record since 2014, its highest number of victories since 2014 and the first winning season since '14. LMC went 11-5 in the league and earned the No. 6 seed in the conference tourney.
 
Havill coached five Conference Carolinas All-Conference performers during her tenure, while the program also shined off the court. The team captured the Lees-McRae CATSBY Award for Service for completing 700-plus hours of team community service, in addition to posting a team GPA that was in the top 20 percent in the country.
 
"I am proud to be part of SNHU's academic and athletic mission," Havill said. "I believe our program will not only strive for competitive success, but also be defined by its commitment to academic excellence and meaningful engagement within the community."
 
Prior to Lees-McRae, Havill was the head coach of the men's volleyball program at Alderson Broaddus University during the spring of 2023. One of just four women to be at the helm of a men's volleyball program in Division I and II at the time, Havill tied the program record for wins by capturing 11 victories in her first season, in addition to winning the team's first Independent Volleyball Association playoff match since 2017.

Prior to becoming a head coach, Havill served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Glenville State University during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. With Havill on the staff, the Pioneers achieved their best overall record in 22 years (16-16) and earned a spot in the Mountain East Conference Championship for the first time in program history.

Havill began her coaching career as a graduate assistant at Utica University in 2021, where the team advanced to the Empire 8 Conference Championship for the first time since 2002.

Havill enjoyed a strong playing career at Northern Vermont University, where she led the North Atlantic Conference in kills and was named to the All-Conference Second Team and the NAC All-Tournament Team in 2019. She finished her career at Northern Virgina Community College, ranking fifth all-time in attacks, sixth in kills and ninth in points, as the team won their region and competed at the NJCAA Division II National Championship.

Havill collected her AS in Business Administration from Northern Virginia Community College in 2019, completed her BS in Business Administration at Northern Vermont University in 2020 and earned her MBA in Sport and Recreation Management from Salem University in 2023.

Cote acknowledged Jim Keane, who has served as an assistant coach for the Penmen since 2024 and was elevated to interim head coach in December 2025.

"We are incredibly grateful to Jim Keane for his leadership and dedication in guiding our program during this transitional period," Cote said. "His commitment to our student-athletes and his steady presence helped maintain a strong foundation and kept recruiting on track while we conducted a national search. We sincerely appreciate his contributions and the positive impact he has made on our volleyball program."

Havill will oversee all aspects of the program at SNHU, including recruiting, player development, practice and game preparation, and overall program operations.
 
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