Wharton will be in her fourth season as Head Coach in 2025, as she holds a 78-28 career record.
SEASON RECAPS:
2022: In Wharton's first year in charge, she led the Scots to a 21-12 overall record while going 14-2 to win the CCS Regular Season Championship and the CCS Tournament. The Scots defeated Wesleyan, Berea, and Huntingdon on their way to the postseason trophy. She was named CCS Coach of the Year while junior Emma Kalbfleisch was named CCS Co-Player of the Year. Covenant advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017.
2023: Covenant broke the school record for most wins, going 35-3 and maintaining a perfect 16-0 record in CCS Play as it won the Conference Regular Season and Tournament titles. One of Covenant's crowning wins, came on October 20th, as it defeated No. 5 Emory, 3-1. Covenant was nationally ranked late in the season, reaching as high as No. 24 in the AVCA rankings. For the second year in a row, Wharton was named CCS Coach of the Year while Emma Kalbfleisch was CCS Player of the Year before also earning All-Region honors and All-American Honorable Mention. The Scots defeated No. 15 Mount St. Joseph in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament, earning just its second NCAA Tournament win in school history.
2024: In year three for Wharton, she got her team to peak at the right time. For the year, Covenant was 22-13 and 12-4 in league play, earning the No. 3 seed in the CCS Tournament. Covenant was nationally ranked to begin the year and went up to No. 23 at one point which was its highest-ever AVCA ranking. The Scots went into the tournament on a seven-game winning streak before it took down Piedmont, Maryville, and Huntingdon to win its third consecutive CCS Tournament Championship. Wharton coached the CCS Player of the Year in Hannah Mathis, who was dominant both offensively and defensively. Also, for the third year in a row, Covenant qualified for the NCAA Tournament.
Stephanie Wharton was named the Head Volleyball Coach in November 2021.
"I consider the opportunity to coach Covenant volleyball an honor and a joy," said Wharton. "Coach [Heather] Taylor established the foundation of a Christ-centered, successful volleyball program, and Coach Ehman built upon that, creating a culture of excellence fueled by God's love and leading the program to new heights in all areas. I treasure the many years we have coached together, and I am so thankful for all Coach Ehman has done for this program."
"After conducting a national search, it was clear that she was the right person for this position," said Sceggel. "Steph prioritizes discipleship in coaching, integrates her faith extremely well, and is a great teacher of the game. Consequently, I'm looking forward to working with her as volleyball program continues an upward trajectory on all fronts."
Wharton takes over the position with an experienced background at Covenant. She spent 12 seasons as an assistant coach for both Heather Taylor and Joanna Ehman and was a part of the most successful teams in program history. Prior to that, Wharton was a four-year standout on the court for the Scots from 2002-2005.
"As a Covenant volleyball alum with 12 years coaching as an assistant, I bleed Scots blue and am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead this program in that same tradition," added Wharton.
Wharton was there for the Scots' four USA South regular season championships, two conference tournament titles, and two NCAA Tournament appearances under Ehman. In her 12 years as an assistant, Wharton was on the bench for 212 wins and four 20-win seasons.
A 2006 graduate of Covenant, Wharton is the program's all-time leader in career digs with 1,919 and second with 4.21 digs per set. She is also fifth in program history in matches played (129), and fourth in sets played (456). Wharton earned NAIA-Daktronics Scholar-Athlete honors and AAC All-Academic accolades in 2005. She was a three-time team captain, serving in that role her sophomore through senior seasons.
Prior to joining the Covenant staff, Wharton spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Bryan (2006-07). Additionally, she served Covenant as an adjunct professor.
Wharton takes over a program that finished 2021 with a 21-9 overall record and advanced to the USA South Tournament semifinals.
"It is my hope that each Covenant volleyball player would grow and develop to maximize her skills and gifts athletically, academically, and relationally to bring glory to our Creator," said Wharton about her goals for the program. "Even further, it is my goal that the unity of the team and the culture fueled by God's love for us and our love for each other would draw the girls even closer together, leading to a passionate, unified team that regularly competes for conference championships."
Wharton earned her bachelor's degree in English. She and her husband, Ben, have four sons.
