Muhlenberg college

Coaching Staff:

Head Coach Alexa Keckler
In just two seasons as head coach at Muhlenberg College, Alexa Keckler has positioned the Mules as an up-and-coming program poised to make an impact in the Centennial Conference.

Inheriting a young, rebuilding team, she coached the Mules to a 6-21 record in her first season, including four wins in their last six matches. In 2011, Muhlenberg improved to 10-18 and came within one win of earning a CC playoff berth. The Mules took two of the five CC playoff teams to a fifth set.

Keckler came to Muhlenberg in 2010 after five years as head coach at CC rival Gettysburg, where she compiled a record of 96-55 (.636), including a 40-10 (.800) CC mark. The Bullets posted at least 18 wins in each of her five seasons and captured their league-best 11th CC championship in 2005. In 2008, Gettysburg was 9-1 in the CC, earning the right to host the conference playoffs.

In Keckler’s five years as head coach, 19 Gettysburg players landed on the All-CC team, including six on the first team.

Before taking over at Gettysburg, Keckler piloted her alma mater of Smithsburg (Md.) High School to an 18-2 record in 2002 and guided Littlestown (Pa.) High School to an 18-5 mark and a district playoff appearance in 2004. In between those assignments, she served as head coach of the Tri-State FCA Volleyball Club’s 15-and-under girls team, leading that squad to a 49-25 record in 2003-04.

An all-region most valuable player and junior college All-American at Hagerstown Community College, Keckler earned her associate’s degree in 1998 before graduating from Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.) University with a bachelor’s degree in sports and exercise science in 2000. She was a two-year letterwinner with the TNU volleyball program, earning TranSouth Athletic Conference academic honors both seasons.

She acquired a master’s degree in human performance from Frostburg State University in 2002 and also has CAP 2 coaching certification from USA Volleyball. In addition to her coaching duties, she has served as the director of the Mid-Maryland Volleyball Camp since 1996.

Keckler and her husband, Drew University men’s basketball head coach Darryl Keckler, have three daughters, Olivia, 6, and Camryn, 3, and Mallory (born June 2012), and a son, Maddox (born June 2012).

Assistant Coach Chelsey Stanton

Chelsey Stanton joins the Muhlenberg staff for the 2012 season after an excellent four-year playing career at Division I Long Island University. Stanton played both setter and libero, finishing in the top 10 on the Blackbirds' career lists in both digs (fourth with 1,239) and assists (ninth with 1,085). As a senior, she led LIU in digs, helping the team advance to the Northeast Conference championship match. A native of nearby Macungie, Stanton attended Emmaus High School and was an assistant coach at the Lehigh Valley High Performance Volleyball Club in 2009.

Assistant Coach Allen Cerullo

Allen Cerullo joined the Muhlenberg coaching staff in 2006. His experience includes junior varsity women's volleyball coach at William Allen High School and head coach for both Lehigh Valley Christian High School and Whitehall High School. He has also coached several club volleyball teams, including Crosscourt Volleyball Club, Push the Rock and Synergy Lehigh Valley, since 1999 while holding a Level II coaching certification from the Coaching Accreditation Program. Cerullo, who earned his bachelor's degree from DeSales, has worked at PPL for the last 35 years.

Student Assistant Coach Christopher Zumberge

A junior at Muhlenberg, Christopher Zumberge is in his third year as a student assistant coach with the volleyball team. Zumberge won three letters as a middle hitter for nearby Parkland High School, earning all-state honors as a senior.