Head coach Phil Shoemaker is in his 28th overall in NCAA Volleyball, 25th as a Head Coach. He has an overall record of 323-384 as head coach (prior to 2007-08 season).

Shoemaker was a recreation major in college, and his coaching philosophy reflects his love of play and his competitive drive. He considers the opportunities and challenges of college athletics both as serious fun and as a great education beyond the classroom.

During his tenure with the Alaska Nanooks, Shoemaker's teams have both been successful and established some high standards. This season he'll look to return the Alaska Nanooks to one of the top positions in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference as well as guide them to a NCAA tournament apperance.

Currently in his eighth season with the Nanook volleyball program, Shoemaker has led his teams to a winning season in five of his seven years at the helm. He has led the Nanooks to a combined 80-82 record and his teams have posted three of the top four winning percentages in Alaska volleyball history.

The Nanooks 16-7 record and .696 percentage in 2002 equals their all-time best, and Alaska was ranked ninth in the season's final Pacific Region Poll. In the first two seasons of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (2001 and 2002), the Nanooks posted a 25-13 league record, finishing second in 2002, and tying for second in 2001.The 2000 team made history by winning the NCAA Division I Auto Service Company Nanook Classic tournament, and they have posted a better than .500 winning percentage against Division I competition. Since that time, Alaska has continued its winning ways, posting a 13-10 mark in 2003 and another winning record of 13-12 in 2004.

Shoemaker came to Fairbanks from Division I Wichita State University where he led them to 243 wins in 17 seasons, and was the most successful coach in Shocker volleyball history. The first head coach to lead Wichita State to four consecutive berths in the conference tournament and five straight winning seasons, Shoemaker led the 1992 team to a 24-8 record and their first NCAA Division I Mideast Regional ranking. In 1991, he was named Gateway Conference Coach of the Year after leading WSU to a 25-13 record, the most victories ever by a Shocker volleyball team in one season. Between 1991 and 1999, WSU recorded three 20-win seasons and two 19-win seasons and made six Missouri Valley Conference and Gateway Conference post-season tournament appearances.

While he was at Wichita State, Shoemaker's teams performed as well in the classroom as they did on the court. In 1999, WSU posted a grade point average of 3.55, best in the nation among Division I schools. In 1993, 1994, 1998 and 1999, his team was one of six Division I teams honored by the American Volleyball Coaches Association for earning a grade point average of 3.3 or better for the year.

Prior to his appointment at WSU, Shoemaker served as an assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of Missouri, for three seasons, where they were 71-35 overall. He helped lead the Tigers to a 26-6 record and their first national ranking in 1982. Shoemaker began his coaching career at the Blue Valley Activity Center in his hometown of Independence, MO. He served as Head Coach and volleyball commissioner, and his teams claimed one championship and eight top five finishes in Amateur Athletic Union and USA Volleyball Junior Olympic National Championship Tournaments. Twenty of his players earned All-American honors.

In addition to coaching, Shoemaker serves as the GNAC representative to the AVCA DII National Coaches Committee, and is a member of the USA Volleyball Coaching Accreditation Program Cadre, and serves on the NCAA Pacific Region Advisory Committee He has previously participated on numerous Division I AVCA and NCAA committees, has been a coach and administrator for the USVBA Junior National Program, served as coordinator of the Mid-America Junior National Team, and was Assistant Director for the USVBA National Development Camps.

Shoemaker competed on collegiate and open teams for 23 years. He played college volleyball at both Graceland College and Missouri as an undergraduate, and at Western Illinois while in graduate school. Shoemaker earned a bachelor of science degree in Recreation and Park Administration from the University of Missouri in 1975, and a master of science degree. from Western Illinois University in the same field in 1982.

Shoemaker, his wife Diane, and their son Tanner reside in Fairbanks.

Phone: 907-474-6809
E-mail: phil.shoemaker@uaf.edu