COACHES JOIN PANTHER STAFF

Panther Athletics has hired three head coaches for the fall sports programs. Director of Athletics Garrett Schwarz announced that YU alumni, Greg Reynolds ’99 and Brendan “Benny” Hanaphy ’08 have been chosen to lead the women's soccer program as co-head coaches, and that Irick Gardner will lead the women’s volleyball program.

Reynolds was a three-time team captain and earned FirstTeam All-Conference honors as a Panther forward. After graduating from York with a degree in business administration, he continued his playing career for the Wichita Jets, a semi-professional team in the PDL. Reynolds has been coaching in the Colorado Soccer Club system for over a decade. Reynolds said, "Coming back to York to coach has always been a dream of mine. I am excited to be back here and look forward to helping the players succeed, on and off the field."

Hanaphy, who served as the interim coach this fall, was named All-Conference all four seasons at York, with an NAIA All-American Honorable Mention his sophomore year. He continued his playing career in the PDL for two seasons. Hanaphy said, "I am extremely honored to be able to help lead this program to new heights on and off of the field. I want to thank the York administration for giving Greg and me the opportunity to lead these young women. I am thoroughly excited to see the growth of this program."

Gardner comes to York University from Judson University in Elgin, Ill., where he served four seasons as the men's volleyball coach and also the women's head coach this past year. He has been coaching volleyball since 1988 at essentially every level from middle school, high school, AAU, JUCO, NAIA, and NCAA. Gardner was a six-time CSHL Conference Coach of the Year at Marian High School in Bloomfield, Mich. He also was a three-time Michigan Regional Coach of the Year and a two-time Michigan Class A Coach of the Year. He was most recently selected as the 2022 CCAC Coach of the Year for the men's program at Judson.

"I have a passion for coaching volleyball, even more, so the women's game,” said Gardner. “I'm really excited about building the program at York as well as getting involved in the wonderful community the school has to offer."