By Eric Stock

NORMAL – Calling it a sabbatical, Melissa Myers hasn’t ruled out a return to coaching after leaving the Illinois State volleyball program which she led for nine seasons.

PODCAST: Listen to Scott and Patti’s interview with Myers on WJBC.

“You don’t really take much time off throughout the year,” Myers said. “You’re always recruiting or you are coaching the team in season. In the spring season you are always training, so there really isn’t much of a break.

“The summer for me was going to be pretty packed and pretty tough and I wanted to make sure the team had what they needed to have a successful season.”

Myers told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin and Patti Penn she wants to get caught up with family. She recently lost a sister and niece in a car accident and that this was the second sibling she has lost to an auto accident.

“I’ve had some stuff happen in my life that reminded me how unpredictable and short life can be,” Myers said. “I said I think I need a little time for myself and there’s just not going to be any time.”

Myers coached at ISU for nine seasons. She said she might return to coaching someday, but for now she wants to spend time on all the things coaches never have time to do.

Myers posted a record of 168-116 and led the Redbirds to the Missouri Valley Conference regular season and tournament championships in 2014. She was the program’s third winningest coach.

ISU has launched a national search for Myers’ replacement.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].