BREAKING: Christy Johnson-Lynch signs new 7-year contract

**sodakjoe** · 02-01-2013, 10:18 AM

I think it's awesome to see how much excitement there is over this. Then again, I can't think of many message boards that have a dedicated Volleyball section either. Go Cyclones!

**jay moe** · 02-01-2013, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by ChrisMWilliams

Here's the release from Iowa State.

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head volleyball coach Christy Johnson-Lynch has agreed to a new seven-year contract, keeping her at the helm of one of the nation’s most successful volleyball programs through 2019.

“I am so excited about the future of the Iowa State volleyball program,” Johnson-Lynch said. “I feel very lucky and blessed to be part of such a great institution and athletics department. My sincere thanks go out to [Athletics Director] Jamie Pollard and [Senior Associate Athletics Director] Calli Sanders for putting so much support behind me and our program. Their leadership and encouragement, in addition to our incredible fan base, is the reason behind our success the past several years. I love my job, I enjoy the people I work with and work for, and my hope is to continue to build Iowa State volleyball into a national championship contender.”

In eight seasons at Iowa State, Johnson-Lynch has taken a Big 12 team that won just 13 league matches from 1996-2004, to a perennial top-15 powerhouse with seven-straight NCAA Tournament appearances. The Cyclones have advanced to five regional semifinals and two regional finals under Johnson-Lynch, one of just seven teams in the nation to advance to the regional semifinals five times since 2007.

Six Cyclones have earned AVCA All-America honors under Johnson-Lynch, including three top-team awards. In 2012, Iowa State boasted two all-Americans and four first team All-Big 12 members. The team also excelled in the classroom, placing five student-athletes on the Academic All-Big 12 first team and one player on the second team. Senior Jamie Straube became the first Cyclone since 1995 to earn national academic recognition, named to the Capital One Academic All-America second team.

“Christy has a vision and the accompanying game plan to create and sustain a championship level program,” Sanders said. “Her teams have distinguished themselves on the court and in the classroom, and the foundation she built positions us for continued success.”

Full terms of the contract will be available at a later date.

Absolutely terrific news!

**CycloneNorth** · 02-01-2013, 10:36 AM

This is awesome. There can't be many schools in the countries that are lucky enough to have so many good coaches who want to stick around.

**cy4prez7** · 02-01-2013, 10:42 AM

**cycloneworld** · 02-01-2013, 10:49 AM

Excellent. Always a great day when we can keep highly successful coaches here at Iowa State.

**CarrollCyclone** · 02-01-2013, 04:52 PM

Wonder what the monetary details of the new contract are and how they compare nationally?

**CycloneErik** · 02-01-2013, 05:01 PM

Simply outstanding. Great news!!!

**VeloClone** · 02-01-2013, 05:04 PM

Originally Posted by cycloneworld

Excellent. Always a great day when we can keep highly successful coaches here at Iowa State.

Thanks, Cyworld. After you post I never sleep well at night. Nightmares about Space 2001 babies.

**jdoggivjc** · 02-01-2013, 05:06 PM

...and there was much rejoicing (yay).

**VeloClone** · 02-01-2013, 05:09 PM

Originally Posted by jdoggivjc

...and there was much rejoicing (yay).

**Koolman** · 02-01-2013, 05:19 PM

Awesome!

**Sobchakcyclone** · 02-01-2013, 06:55 PM

I was so happy when I read it, I cried a little, I think.

I'm going to miss Tornado Man's, "Christy being talked about for the ___________ opening" posts at the end of each season. At least, for a while.

**Ciclone** · 02-01-2013, 07:33 PM

Great for Christy and us!

**swarthmoreCY** · 02-01-2013, 07:45 PM

Great news.

**psyclone51** · 02-02-2013, 10:01 AM

Great news. And its great to see such a positive and big response to the news. CJL brings to VB what I would love to see in wrestling; a vision for the future that includes competing for the national title.

I just got my hand-written thank you note from Taylor Knuth for being a season ticket holder. This is a class group of young women that CJL has assembled.

With this great news, it's time for us to do our part and help build the crowd at Hilton. I will double, maybe even triple my season's tickets and hand them out to friends and colleagues. I hope others will do the same.