Peter Cosmiano enters his 12th season as the head coach of the Mississippi College volleyball team. Cosmiano took over the program after spending six years as the head coach at Millsaps College. He has compiled a 246-288 record in his 18 seasons as a head coach.
In 2014, the Lady Choctaws went 5-25 with an 0-20 mark in Gulf South Conference action. MC opened the slate with wins over Rust College, Tougaloo and opening day wins over Huntingdon College and Schreiner University in the Millsaps Invitational. The Blue and Gold logged its fifth win at Centenary College, downing the Ladies 3-0. Under his tuitledge, Holly Tupper was named to the NCCAA Scholar-Athlete Team while Sydney Chandler, Carley Cook, Asilynn DeSilvey, Madison Frazier, Madison Girndt, Madison Kimes, Ashton King, Tupper and Meredith Williams received GSC Academic Honor Roll laurels.Â
In 2013, the Lady Choctaws went 8-22 with a 4-14 mark in the American Southwest Conference. MC swept season series with LeTourneau, Tougaloo and Sul Ross State on the season. Junior Holly Tupper earned her third All-ASC selection, earning an Honorable Mention. Sophomore Pollyann Scruggs was also an Honorable Mention All-ASC selection.
The Lady Choctaws opened the 2012 season by alternating wins and losses over their first 13 matches, starting 7-6 on the year. MC had their longest winning streak of the season when they picked up victories over Rust, Howard Payne and Sul Ross State. The Lady Choctaws finished the year with a 12-18 record and 5-11 mark in the ASC. Senior Lauryn Hamrick and sophomore Holly Tupper earned All-ASC honors for the second straight season. On October 2nd, Cosmiano earned his 100th win since coming to MC, defeating Rust in three sets.
The 2011 season saw the Lady Choctaws finish 11-21, but combined to go 10-10 at home or at a neutral site. Â MC had two players earn All-ASC selections in junior setter Lauryn Hamrick and freshman libero Holly Tupper. Senior Courtney Creamer was named to the Capital One Academic All-District Volleyball team after a vote of the college sports information directors in the district.
In 2010, the Lady Choctaws finished 14-17, just one spot out of the American Southwest Conference tournament. Â Four Lady Choctaws earned spots on the All-ASC Teams with Katie Askew and Courtney Nordyke being named to the Second Team, while Megan Deen and Katie Rowland were given an Honorable Mention.
In 2009, Cosmiano coached MC to their first-ever appearance in the American Southwest Conference Tournament after a 13-14 record and a third-place finish in the ASC East. Two Lady Choctaws earned All-ASC honors in Megan Deen and Allie Mullins.
In 2008, Cosmiano led the Lady Choctaws to a 13-15 record and a 5-12 mark in the conference. Three Lady Choctaws were named to All-Conference teams, including Allie Mullins and Courtney Nordyke being named to the Second Team, while Sarah Conway was Honorable Mention.
In 2007, Cosmiano led the Lady Choctaws to a 14-15 record, the best finish in the twelve year history of the program. The Lady Choctaws featured a roster of mostly underclassmen and missed qualifying for the American Southwest Conference Championship Tournament by one spot. Two true freshmen, Katie Rowland and Clare Pritchard, earned All-ASC Second Team honors.
In 2005, Cosmiano led the Lady Choctaws to an 11-3 record to open the season which was the best start in school history. Under his tutelage, outside hitter Rebecca Crane and middle blocker Jennifer Braswell each earned All-ASC honors as well as selection as ASC Players of the Week. Seven players were named to the ASC All-Academic team.
In his first season, Cosmiano led the Lady Choctaws to nine wins, more than tripling the previous season win total. With several returning players and a talented group of newcomers, Cosmiano has the Lady Choctaw volleyball program primed for a breakout season next year.
Cosmiano is the all-time winningest volleyball coach at Millsaps with a career record of 129-82. He won 20 games or more in five of his six seasons with the Lady Majors.
Cosmiano has been active in the college volleyball ranks since 1989 when he was instrumental in forming a men's club team at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. While there, he served as a player/coach with the Union University squad until he graduated in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and Marketing.
In 1993, Cosmiano was hired as an assistant coach at New Mexico Highlands University, a NCAA Division II program, located in Las Vegas, New Mexico. He worked three years with the Cowgirls program and served as Interim Head Coach following the 1996 season.
During his last season at New Mexico Highlands, Cosmiano established the Las Vegas Junior Olympic Club. Also, while at New Mexico Highlands, Cosmiano completed his Masters of Business Administration Degree in the Spring of 1997.
In addition to his volleyball experience as a player and coach, Cosmiano has worked with the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic games and serves on the Executive Board for the Delta Region of USA Volleyball.
Remaining active in the organization of many volleyball clubs and tournaments throughout the country, Cosmiano also currently serves as a member of the NCAA Volleyball Ranking Committee for the South Region.
Cosmiano is married to the former Rebecca Nelson of Jasper, Alabama and they have three daughters, Eleanor, Rosalind and Lucy.
