Mentor hires Muzic as volleyball coach

Samantha Muzic graduated from Mentor in 2010, where she played volleyball under Cardinals coach Rich Woodman. Muzic’s participation in the sport began at Memorial Middle School. Outside her high school team, she played at Eastside Juniors, where she was coached by Steve Scherlacher.

After Scherlacher’s untimely passing last fall, Mentor’s head volleyball coaching position was vacant. Muzic, most recently the head coach at North, made for a logical fit at her alma mater.

“It’s home to me,” Muzic said. “It’s where I grew up and I learned everything from the Woodmans, the Steves, everyone in that program. So I just wanted to go back home, in a way, and I’m really excited to keep the program in the family, the Mentor family, and see what I can do with it and keep the winning tradition alive.”

Mentor announced the hire with a post to its athletics website Feb. 26. Muzic was one of four applicants to interview for the job, and ultimately the Cardinals’ choice to lead the program. She will meet with the team’s players and parents at Mentor on March 18.

Since her graduation, Muzic played a year of volleyball at Notre Dame College before she completed her academics at Ohio State. She returned to Mentor as an assistant in 2014, served as an assistant at Notre Dame in 2017 and coached at Eastside the past nine years.

Muzic was hired for her first head coaching position at North before the 2018 season. The Rangers finished 17-8 and advanced to a Division I Euclid District semifinal.

Mentor athletic director Jeff Cassella pointed to Muzic’s familiarity with the Mentor community, her mentorship from Scherlacher and her success last season as key reasons for her hire.

“We were very impressed with the job she did at Eastlake North last year,” Cassella said, “resurrecting that program and got positive vibes out of that. So we think she’s the right person.” Muzic already knows some of her players at Mentor from her time coaching at Eastside. She looks forward to carrying on Mentor’s tradition after Scherlacher energized the program.

“He was my beginning of volleyball,” Muzic said. “It just means a lot to me to be able to continue what he did. I know how he important he is. He was important to the girls at Mentor. He was important to me from a player, a coach and a friend standpoint, as well.” Girls hoops tournament capsules