Athletics / Teams / Volleyball / Coaching Staff /
Tanya Hockman - Head Coach
Hockman enters her eleventh season as head coach of the Pioneer volleyball program after directing her squad to an overall record of 24-15 last season, including a 9-5 mark in the American Mideast Conference. Last year marked the ninth winning campaign in ten seasons for Hockman. The program has fared extremely well under her direction, with an AMC title in 2000 and 2001 and having battled for the title in nearly every other season in which she has coached. Through ten seasons, Hockman, who has two AMC Coach of the Year honors to her credit, has an impressive 260-151 record (109-49 AMC).
Having graduated with a BA in Christian Ministries at Malone in 1994, Hockman was a four-year letterwinner in both volleyball and basketball at the College. She went on to attain a master’s degree in Christian Ministries, also at Malone, in 1999. Prior to becoming the head coach, she was an assistant Pioneer volleyball coach for four years. At Malone, she has coached two NAIA Honorable Mention honorees (Angela Lockhart and Brandie Beebe), two AMC Player of the Year recipients (Angela Lockhart and Kim Slone) and nine NAIA All-America Scholar Athletes. In addition, she also served as an assistant Malone women’s basketball coach for six seasons (1995-2001).
Beginning last fall, Hockman became full-time at Malone, now also serving as an instructor in the Department of Theology (Sports Ministry) and taking on additional administrative duties along with her volleyball coaching assignment. She is also the NCCAA East Region Volleyball Chair, a position she has held since 2005. In addition, she is a former board member of both the Association of Church Sports and Recreation Ministries and the Regional Sports Consortium.
Tanya and her husband, Scott, also a Malone graduate (1994), and their daughters Jaidan (6), Kiara (4), and Nya (2) reside in North Canton.
Rafael Gonzalez - Assistant Coach
Rafael Gonzalez returns to the program for an eleventh season as assistant coach after joining Hockman in her first year as head coach in 1999. His responsibilities include recruitment and player development along with aiding Hockman with on the floor coaching.
A graduate of the University of Puerto Rico, Rafael holds a bachelor's degree in Computer Science with a concentration in Management Information Systems.
In addition to his coaching, Gonzalez has extensive volleyball experience on the court having played for three years in high school and four years in college. He also has two years of professional playing experience to his credit.
Rafael currently works for Aultman Hospital in Canton in the Information Technology area. He and his wife, Dinah, a Malone College graduate (1992), and their daughter, Gabriella (8), reside in Canton.
Rachel Lantz - Graduate Assistant
Rachel Lantz begins her first season on the Malone coaching staff as a graduate assistant coach as she pursues a master’s degree in Clinical Counseling. Rachel contributed as a defensive specialist and libero on the 2002 and 2003 Pioneer volleyball teams before graduating from Malone in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in Youth and Sports Ministry.
Following graduation, she served as a resident director at Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. Rachel, who currently resides in Canton, has travelled extensively overseas to China, Ireland and the Dominican Republic on numerous Malone service-learning trips.