FAIRFAX, Va. – George Mason University Assistant Vice President/Director of Athletics Marvin Lewis announced today a contract extension through the 2027 season for women's volleyball head coach Megan Shifflett Bachmann, ensuring her continued leadership of the Patriots program for years to come.

Shifflett Bachmann, a three-time NCAA Champion and decorated defensive specialist, has steadily elevated George Mason volleyball since being named the program's eighth head coach on July 7, 2022. Under her direction, the Patriots have increased their win total in each of her three seasons at the helm, culminating in 2024's historic campaign that marked the program's highest single-season win total since 2010. In the first half of the 2025 season, the Patriots had their most successful non-conference season since 2009, beat their first power conference opponent since 2019, and have already surpassed last year's 11 total wins.

"Megan has done an exceptional job building a culture of competitiveness, accountability, and belief within our women's volleyball program," said Lewis. "Her leadership has elevated our team's performance and her commitment to developing student-athletes on and off the court exemplifies the values of George Mason athletics. We're excited to see her continue leading the program to new heights."

During her tenure, George Mason has produced one All-Atlantic 10 selection and two All-Rookie Team honorees, underscoring a new era of competitiveness and player development within the program.

"I'm so grateful to our administration for believing in me and the long-term vision I've had for this program since 2022," said Shifflett Bachmann. "I owe a huge thanks in particular to Marvin Lewis and Nena Rogers for their unwavering support. I'm excited to keep working and making this team the best we can be this year and beyond."

A Northern Virginia native and Langley High School alum, Shifflett Bachmann brings a wealth of championship experience and coaching expertise to Fairfax.

Prior to George Mason, she spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Towson University (2018–2022), helping the Tigers to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and three straight CAA regular season titles while developing one of the league's top-ranked defensive units. Her coaching journey has also included impactful roles at the U.S. Naval Academy—where she helped the program reach the Patriot League Tournament for the first time in over a decade and coached a libero to a school-record 46 digs in a single match—and at Western Oregon University, where she served as interim head coach.

As a player, she was part of Penn State's volleyball dynasty, contributing to three consecutive NCAA National Championships from 2008 to 2010, appearing in 88 matches, and earning Academic All-Big Ten honors twice. She holds a bachelor's degree in secondary education from Penn State and a master's degree in education from Durham University (UK), where she researched the impact of physical education on students with ADHD.

Shifflett Bachmann is known for her defense-first coaching philosophy, emphasis on accountability and resilience, and her dedication to developing student-athletes on and off the court. Her contract extension reflects the university's confidence in her vision to guide George Mason volleyball to new heights in the Atlantic 10.