Ithaca College Athletics

Tara Stilwell was named the head coach of the Ithaca College volleyball program on May 7, 2024. The 2025 season is her second at the helm of the program as Stilwell became the ninth head coach for the volleyball program, which began competition during the 1968 season.

The 2024 season saw the Bombers win their third-straight Liberty League Championship, while making their ninth-straight appearance in the NCAA Division III Championship. Ithaca would defeat Lasell University and (RV) Smith College in the NCAA First Round and Second Round but fell to No. 3 Johns Hopkins in the Regional Championship match. IC amassed a record of 24-7 and saw three student-athletes earn All-American honors with both Gabriela Gonzalez-Abreu and Naomi Clauhs earning Honorable Mention honors as well as Wesley Slavin who was named to the Second Team.

Stilwell, an alunmna of the program, served as an assistant coach under Johan Dulfer for two seasons and was an assistant at Cornell University, including serving as assistant during the 2023 season.

During her time with the Big Red, Stilwell spearheaded the recruiting efforts, while also assisting in coaching team practice with an emphasis on defense/serve receive skill and technique. She also would facilitate scouting reports for opponents and worked directly with summer camp organization and Giving Day operations.

Her first stint as initially a graduate assistant and then as an assistant with the Bombers saw IC make appearances in the NCAA Division III Championships in both 2019 and 2021 (2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19), including an appearance in the regional final. A transfer from Clarkson University after her freshman season, Stilwell went onto to be a three-year starting libero for Ithaca. She led her team to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including one Elite Eight and a Final Four.

Stilwell who also served as an instructor at Ithaca College during the 2022-23 academic year and taught Introduction to Sport and Exercise Psychology, Psychology of Injury, and Leadership and Team Building.

7/10/2025