Mercy University Athletics

Gary Preston Jr. enters his first season as Head Coach of the Mercy College volleyball team in 2021. 

"I am grateful to have this opportunity during these times that everyone is facing in the world. What makes this special is that I am back in the state of New York, a place I am proud to call home. I would like to thank everyone who has helped guide and direct me at this point in my coaching career. Mercy College has so much to offer. It is a new chapter in my career and I am ready to start," stated Preston.

"We are very excited about the hiring of Gary Preston Jr. as our Head Women's Volleyball Coach. He has a terrific reputation in the Volleyball world and provides a great vision for the direction of our program," said Kilcullen.

Preston brings a wealth of experience to the position. He has experience in Division l, ll and lll, in both men and women. Preston is currently coaching for Brooklyn Elite Volleyball Club for the 13 Empire, 16 Empire and 18 Elite travel teams. 

Preston was the assistant women's volleyball coach at Bethune-Cookman University during the 2019 season. He served as a recruiting coordinator, coordinator of the offense, equipment manager and player in practice.

During the 2018 season, Preston was the assistant women's volleyball coach at University of Arkansas Fort Smith. He was a recruiting coordinator, coordinator of the offense and equipment manager. The team won the 2018-19 Heartland Conference Championship and made an appearance in the 2018 NCAA Tournament. The team finished the season with a 21-12 record.

Preston also has experience coaching overseas. While pursuing a Masters in Sports and Exercise Psychology, Gary served as the London Orcas assistant volleyball coach and Westminster Volleyball Club head coach in 2017-18. The Orcas team that Preston coached was ranked Top 4 in the Super 8's League in 2017-18 and was a semifinalist in the National Cup playoffs.

Preston got his start in collegiate coaching at Hunter College in 2016-17 where he was the assistant men's volleyball coach. The team was ranked in the top 10 in Division III men's volleyball and ended the season 28-7. This was a historical season for Hunter College made the Elite Eight at the NCAA tournament.

He had a successful collegiate playing career at New Jersey City University where he was a three-year starter as a setter. He was the team captain in 2014 and was named Second Team All-Skyline Conference in 2014. A 2015 graduate from New Jersey City University with a Bachelor's Degree in Women's Studies.