Rutgers-Newark Athletics

By Jim Hague

After spending two years playing volleyball at a junior college called Long Beach City College in southern California, Dane Mulligan was searching for a new place to call his collegiate home. And his intentions were always to head to the East Coast. 

“I wanted to get out and explore the world a little,” Mulligan said. “I wanted to see how other people lived.” 

So Mulligan started to consider Rutgers-Newark, where his younger brother Caden was attending and playing volleyball. 

“It really wasn’t a deciding factor, but as I was looking around, it made Rutgers a possibility,” Mulligan said. “He definitely said that he had a good time at Rutgers-Newark and it was a good school. It made my choice easier.” 

However, Caden Mulligan decided to not return to Rutgers-Newark this year, after serving as the Scarlet Raiders’ starting libero last year. 

“It would have been nice to play together and I tried to convince him to come back,” Dane Mulligan said. “He just had other things he was interested in.” 

Although Rutgers-Newark head volleyball coach Karl France was disappointed to lose Caden Mulligan, he was ecstatic to secure the services of his older brother. 

“When I was looking at Dane, I knew that he was a gamer,” France said. “I knew that he was the kind of player who may make a mistake from time to time, but he’s always going to make a play. He’s always going to leave it on the court. We knew that coming in.” 

Mulligan, who has two sisters who also played collegiate volleyball at Pepperdine, also added some experience to a young Scarlet Raider program. 

“Being a player who came from a junior college, a good competitive junior college, he can fill a little bit of a leadership role for us,” France said. “He’s really done better than what could have been expected thus far. When you have a guy like Dane who comes here with two years of college volleyball, it helps you, because he’s already seen all aspects of the game.” 

Mulligan has come up in a big way for the Scarlet Raiders already, like when he collected 20 kills in a recent 3-1 loss to Princeton. 

“It meant that every third time he got a set, two went down for a kill,” France said. “That’s incredible in any kind of volleyball. He’s definitely helping the team right away.” 

Mulligan was a little concerned whether he would fit in with his new team. 

“I sort of felt things out at the start,” Mulligan said. “I didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes. I’m not a team captain or anything, but I do know what it takes to win.” 

Mulligan led Long Beach City College to the California Community College Athletic Association championship last year, leading his team to an 18-1 record. 

“I didn’t feel like I was a leader when I came here,” Mulligan said. “But I could help the younger players. I felt like I fit in because we all had the same goals. We all want to win more than anything.” 

Mulligan said that he was pleased to see six players on the Scarlet Raiders’ roster hailing from California. 

“We all have similar personalities, so it was a very easy fit,” Mulligan said. “Of course, coming to Newark from southern California (San Juan Capistrano) was a big culture shock for me. But it’s part of the reason why I wanted to come east. It’s definitely part of the reason why I wanted to try this area.” 

France likes what Mulligan brings to the team. 

“He’s one of the most complete players we have,” France said. “He can defend his position well. He can block. He’s above average with his attack and in his serving, which are important skills to have at his position (opposite or right-side hitter). I would like him to be a better blocker, but that may come in time. But what he’s giving us right now, I’ll take it. He’s a professional. He has added a professional way of doing things. He goes out and does his job and has been showing good leadership skills. He may have only been here for four months, but he’s pushing others along. He’s been incredible.” 

Mulligan doesn’t feel like he’s been playing that well. 

“I don’t think I’m playing at my maximum,” Mulligan said. “I wasn’t comfortable with my game before, but I’m feeling more comfortable as the season progresses.” 

Mulligan owns a very interesting major at R-N. He’s majoring in anthropology. 

“I took some anthropology classes in junior college and I really liked them,” Mulligan said. “I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but if I’m going to study something in school, it has to have some interest for me. I’m not quite sure what’s going to happen, but I like what’s going on so far.” 

Maybe Mulligan will become Rutgers-Newark’s version of Indiana Jones. 

“It’s always a possibility,” Mulligan said. 

Dane Mulligan is proving that anything’s possible in the right setting, even a kid from southern California finding success and happiness in Newark.