Bio

Mary Cahill is a a Chapman alumna and Chapman Athletics Hall of Famer. She is the longest-tenured head coach in Chapman history and begins her 33rd season at the helm of the Chapman women's volleyball program. Her 519 wins rank among the top-50 active Division III coaches.

The Panthers made four consecutive SCIAC Tournament appearances from 2017-21 with the COVID-19 pandemic forcing the cancellation of the 2020 season. The Panthers won 19 matches in 2018 and went 23-5 in 2019, setting a program record with a 15-match win streak from Sep. 6 - Oct. 18.

She has led the Panthers to 10 total NCAA Tournament appeances with eight of those coming in the NCAA Division III Championship - most recently in 2012.

In 2011, the Panthers set a school record with 24 wins and the following year, they matched it with a 24-7 campaign, good for second place in their first year in the SCIAC. It was the sixth time in nine years the Panthers won at least 17 matches. Chapman also reached the NCAA playoffs for the third time in four years. Her teams have finished .500 or better in 25 of her 30 seasons, including 11 straight from 2003-13. Cahill also added duties as the Senior Woman Administrator in 2005.

After nearly 30 years of coaching at the Division III level, Cahill has coached 15 All-America selections, including a long line of success at the middle blocker position - accounting for eight of her All-Americans. She has had 40 Division III All-West Region athletes play for her since 1994 and five Academic All-District VIII selections.

Chapman Volleyball has also earned 15 Academic Team awards from the AVCA, including in each of the last 14 years.

A native of Orange, Mary attended Orange High School and played two seasons at Chapman, where she was named Academic All-America in 1985. Following her playing days, she immediately entered the coaching ranks as an assistant coach at Chapman under Tom Read. She continued coaching at El Modena High School and Fullerton College until she was named the Head Coach at Chapman in 1989.

In 2001, Cahill was inducted into the Chapman Athletics Hall of Fame for her accomplishments as a student-athlete in the 1980s. She guided the Panthers to back-to-back NCAA Division II Tournament appearances in 1989 and 1990, finishing just one game out of first place in the CCAA in both years.

She has a bachelor's degree in Movement/Exercise Science from Chapman, and a master's in education from Azusa Pacific. She currently resides in Orange. Her daughter, Kadie, joined the team as a sophomore in 2022.