A change in personnel can throw any athletic team for a loop, but the ISU volleyball team may use it as an opportunity for excellence.

After the departure of head coach Linda Crum, who resigned to spend time with her family, Iowa State opened up a search for a candidate to lead the Cyclones. The team found her successor in Christy Johnson, former assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Johnson was a two-time All-American setter at Nebraska and earning three Big 10 Championships in eight years as coach of the Badgers.

Wisconsin was 22-10 last season and within one match of the Final Four.

The loss of their coach was an obstacle, but there was also the question of how the team would play under the direction of someone new.

Crum led the Cyclones for six years, tallying a 39-135 record.

The Cyclones’ season ended last year with an 8-21 record and a 1-19 mark in the Big 12.

Johnson, though, said she does not plan on throwing a new system at the team, but rather stay with a system which the athletes are familiar with.

“Transition is always hard, especially for seniors who have a new coach their last year,” Johnson said.

“But everyone’s support and enthusiasm has been wonderful. and there has been no resistance at all.”

Johnson also said her newly-minted staff has been making the process as easy as possible.

Assistant coach Joe Lynch joined the program in January after an accomplished career with several high school and club teams in Wisconsin.

In February the staff grew with the addition of assistant coach Dawn Sullivan, a former Kansas State University All-American and Illinois State associate head coach.

Sullivan is also the sister of sophomore defensive specialist Laura Cady.

“There is always room for improvement, and the changes made are only trying to make us better,” said senior setter Amanda Craig.

“We only hope we are making it as easy for them as they are for us.”

Fellow senior Katie Kruenegel said the coaching changes were positive for the team.

“It was a good change for us, and we’ve all responded really well to it,” she said.

Johnson said the transition to a new coaching environment was another issue to handle.

“I had to learn a lot about the school, new gyms, coaches and getting familiar with the personnel, but after a month or so things settled down,” she said.

“Returning to the Midwest was easy for me, and it’s great to coach for a league that I’m familiar with.”

She said being present for the spring season was a bonus to the meshing of the team and staff, as the players she trained in the spring have returned for the fall.

“It was good to have her come in the spring, and we got a taste of what it would be like this fall,” said sophomore hitter Erin Boeve.

“The three coaches work really well together, and we are really looking forward to this season.”

The Cyclones’ play Northern Colorado Saturday at the Blue jay invitational in Omaha, Neb.