Only weeks after their season ended, some players were shocked when athletic director Andy Ewald told   them their head coach resigned.

Girls’ volleyball head coach Mark Nelson met with Ewald for a postseason meeting Nov. 13. Ewald cited data privacy policies as the reason he could not comment. Nelson was unavailable to comment.

A meeting was set up that night for players or parents interested in attending. Ewald told those at the meeting that Nelson resigned.

Freshman team member Siona Kelly said she was surprised by the announcement.

“I was really shocked because I had no idea (it was coming),” Kelly said. “From what I could tell, he really cared about the program, and he didn’t make it seem like he was going to resign.”

Junior captain Amra Mucic said she thinks Nelson’s resignation will have a positive impact on the team.

“The environment caused by (Nelson) made the girls not want to come back,” Mucic said. “I think it’s going to motivate us to be better players, because it’s a new slate.”

Kelly said she agrees, and said because no player is guaranteed her same position, next year’s season will be a new beginning for the team.

“Ewald said no one is guaranteed a spot next year and the coaches won’t have favorites, so it will be a fresh start,” Kelly said.

The open position was advertised and the search for a new head coach has begun already, according to Ewald.

“I put the job out there, where hopefully (the position) can get some people interested in it,” Ewald said. “(Coaching) is a lot of time and energy for not a lot coming back the other way, so again, even finding coaches is a tough thing to do. Finding good coaches is a really hard thing to do.”

Although she will not be on the team next season, senior captain Holly Westwood said she thinks Nelson’s resignation will be beneficial for the team.

“Hopefully the new coach will re-energize the team and help remind them about the fun part of playing volleyball,” Westwood said.