ADRIAN, Mich. -- Siena Heights athletic director Sue Syljebeck has announced the hire of alum Parker Saenz as the SHU head men's volleyball coach. Saenz was a three-year player for the Saints in 2016-18 and becomes only the second school alum to hold the men's volleyball position.

"We are excited to bring someone like Parker in who has been part of building our men's volleyball program from the early stages," Syljebeck said. "He has taken great pride in the program's successes and take us back to that level."

Saenz, a 2018 SHU grad, joins the Saints' coaching staff after a two-year stint as assistant coach for both the men's and women's teams across town at Adrian College. He is also director of player development for the MICA Volleyball Club, which is run out of his hometown of Concord, Mich., and was a two-year coach at Olivet High School prior to his time at Adrian.

Saenz graduated with a bachelor's degree in fine arts, with a concentration in digital media. Saenz was part of the first men's team under Coach Kim Berrington, who guided the men for five seasons before solely focusing on the women's squad in 2020.

"I'm very excited to be part of Siena Heights again," Saenz said. "I'm excited to bring this program back to what it was for me and even what it was just two years ago. There's a good group of guys here that have put in the work and want to continue to work. It's a great school and a great program."

Saenz competed in volleyball and cross country/track and field during his time as a student-athlete at Siena Heights. While running, he was a mid-distance competitor, focusing on the 600, 800, 1,000, mile and 3,000 steeplechase. In three years on the volleyball court, he competed in 66 matches and totaled 68 kills, 54 blocks, 36 digs, nine assists and nine aces.