Anitra Brockman

Anitra Brockman is the head men’s volleyball coach at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore

PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland –The University of Maryland Eastern Shore Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has selected Dr. Anitra Brockman to be the head coach of the University's new men's volleyball program.

"As we begin to develop our newest sport to UMES, we are excited to have Anitra Brockman lead our efforts towards building a nationally recognized men's volleyball program. Throughout her coaching career, Coach Brockman has demonstrated her abilities to develop and lead programs to success on and off the court," Vice President of Athletics Tara A. Owens said. "She has been an advocate for growing the game of men's volleyball and we believe she will our team to success on the court, in the classroom, and in the community."

Brockman comes to UMES with experience coaching on the collegiate and high school levels.

She spent her previous two seasons coaching men and women in the SIAC at Central State University. In her first season, the CSU men finished as the SIAC Runner-Up in 2023. The Marauders reached the SIAC championship again in 2024.

Prior to coaching at CSU, Brockman spent four seasons coaching at Badin High School in Hamilton, Ohio. In her four years as the head coach of the Badin boys' program, she led her team to its first Regional Championship and OHSBVA Final Four appearance in 2021. She finished her coaching career at Badin with a state championship in 2022.

Named the Badin girls' head coach in March of 2021, Brockman's team won back-to-back District 16 titles and advanced to its first appearance in the OHSAA Div. II Regional final in 2021.

While at Badin, Brockman also served as the Ohio High School Girls Volleyball Coaches Association President from 2018 to 2020 and the Ohio High School Boys Volleyball Association President from 2021 to 2022. Serving as president, Brockman played a key role in boys' volleyball being officially sanctioned by the OHSAA last fall.

Prior to her success at Badin, Brockman coached the girls' team at Summit Country Day in Cincinnati, Ohio. While at SCD, she compiled a coaching record of 33-15. Her first high school head coaching job was at Hamilton High School.

Brockman also has club coaching experience as the director of the Epic Volleyball Club, Ohio Premier Volleyball Club, Cincinnati Volleyball Academy and Cincinnati Attack Volleyball Club.

Among her accomplishments as a coach, Brockman has earned the 2020 AVCA Diversity Award, USA Volleyball's Robert L. Lindsey Meritorious Service Award, Greater Catholic League Coed Coach of the Year, OHSBVA Regional Coach of the Year, OHSBVA Coach of the Year, and the Ohio Valley Volleyball Officials Association Coaching Service Award. In addition, Brockman was listed in the Cincinnati Enquirer's People to Watch List in 2022.

Brockman has three children, including her son Jordan who she has coached while at Badin. She attended McAuley High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. She earned her undergraduate and master's degree in Human Resources from American InterContinental University. She recently earned her PhD in sports and athletic management at North Central University.

"It is an honor and a privilege to be selected as the first coach of the men's volleyball program at UMES," Brockman says. "I appreciate the overall vision of President Anderson and Vice President Owens have as we embark on bringing the sport to UMES while promoting diversity in our sport. We have a great opportunity to build a championship level program and make a positive impact in our community."

In November, Dr. Anderson and Vice President Owens announced the addition of men's volleyball at UMES, which will become the first NCAA Div. I HBCU to add men's volleyball and the 68th school to sponsor the fast-growing sport at the NCAA DI-II level.

In addition, it was announced that a $250,000 grant from First Point Volleyball Foundation was obtained to aide in the establishment of the UMES men's volleyball program. The $250,000 will be granted over a period of three years to assist with start-up costs and to provide funding to UMES Athletics as they provide scholarship support, facility improvements and other services to men's and women's volleyball athletes.

Brockman will lead the UMES men's volleyball team into competition beginning in the 2025-2026 season. UMES will compete as a member of the Northeast Conference (NEC).

ABOUT HAWK ATHLETICS

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level intercollegiate athletic program. The university currently fields teams in 14 sports: women's volleyball, women's bowling, men's and women's golf, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's indoor track & field, softball, baseball, and men's and women's outdoor track and field. The UMES volleyball, bowling, basketball, softball, and cross-country teams compete in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). UMES golf and baseball currently play as members of the Northeast Conference (NEC). Track & field holds dual membership and compete in the MEAC as well as the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC). UMES recently announced the addition of men's volleyball which will begin competition in the NEC beginning in the 2025-2026 season.