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| Millicent Van Norden |
In 11 seasons as a collegiate head coach at Alcorn State, North Carolina A&T, South Carolina State and most recently Coppin State, Van Norden has amassed a career record of 176-206, earning 20 wins in a season three times and receiving two Coach of the Year honors.
"We are extremely excited to have Coach Van Norden start the next chapter of UMES Volleyball," said Davidson. "She is a proven winner in this conference and has national experience as well; we know we can look to her to continue our expectations of being at the top of the MEAC each season."
"I am very excited to become a part of the UMES family," said Van Norden. "The commitment to a successful volleyball program by the university, athletic administration, the student body, and the student-athletes is a rare commodity that I have always seen and admired at UMES. I am happy to become a part of the Hawk culture and to have the opportunity to continue the legacy of success."
Last season under former head coach Don Metil, who recently left to take the reins at Towson University, the Hawks went 28-6 and captured their second straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championship. Under Metil's tutelage, the Hawks currently have the nation's longest home-winning streak, standing at 30-straight won matches at the Hytche Athletic Center.
"We thank Coach Metil for his contributions," said Davidson. "He took the Hawks to new heights and helped us experience unparalleled success in the volleyball program. We wish him the best in his new endeavor."
Last season, Van Norden served as an assistant coach at the University of Pittsburgh under former Hawks head man Toby Rens. The Panthers went 17-14, falling in the Big East Tournament Quarterfinal round.
She was at Coppin State for the 2011 season and South Carolina State from 2007-2010. There, she transformed the Bulldogs from the bottom of the league to a MEAC Championship in 2010. SCSU defeated Delaware State in the title game 3-1, the first MEAC Volleyball title at South Carolina State since 1990. Her team was turned around from 1-7 in league play in 2007 to an impressive 6-2 in 2010.
"What I learned most from coaching the program at South Carolina State is that it is not about all that you have, but what you do with the opportunity in front of you. I taught discipline and sacrifice to my team and expected everything that they did to reflect the future success that they wanted," Van Norden said.
Prior to her stint at South Carolina State, Van Norden was the head coach at North Carolina A&T for three seasons. She compiled an overall record of 49-52 and was 23-7 in the MEAC and was named the conference Coach of the Year in 2005 after guiding the Aggies to a 9-1 record.
Van Norden began her coaching career at her alma mater Alcorn State.
In three seasons, she posted a record of 71-42 and won two Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Eastern Division titles and made two SWAC Tournament championship match appearances.
Van Norden was a highly decorated student-athlete at Alcorn State where she earned letters in volleyball and track and field. On the volleyball court, she was a two-time All-SWAC selection and was named the pre-season volleyball SWAC Player of the Year in 2000.
On the track, Sylvan-Van Norden was a 2000 USA Track and Field Indoor National Participant and a provisional qualifier in the long jump and the 100-meter hurdles in that same year. She currently owns the school and SWAC record in the heptathlon with 5,071 points.
During her time as a student-athlete she was a member several student organizations including the NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, SWAC Student-Athlete Association and the Alcorn State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. A four-year SWAC scholar athlete, Van Norden was a two-time recipient of the NCAA Leadership Award and a recipient of the Arthur Ashe Sports Scholar Athlete Award in 2000.
She earned both her bachelor's in education (2000), and a master's degree in secondary education (2003) from Alcorn State. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and was involved in the NYSP Extended program.
(The Coppin State sports information staff contributed to this release.)
COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE SPORTS INFORMATION
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