2008 Woodie Awards
Piedmont volleyball coach resigns
O'Brien moves on to NCAA Division-II college
by Brian Carter
Issue date: 3/17/08 Section: News
Four months removed from a Great South Athletic Conference championship, head volleyball coach and Piedmont alumna Katie O'Brien resigned from Piedmont to take a head-coaching job at Montevallo University, an NCAA Division-II school. O'Brien coached the Lady Lions to the team's first ever NCAA Division-III National Tournament after earning an automatic bid following the GSAC championship.
O'Brien's tenure lasted eight seasons. She has produced a 182-109 record with two GSAC championships, the first coming in 2001. She was named GSAC Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2007. The Lady Lions' volleyball team remains in good shape after losing just two seniors.
"This team has so much potential and they have been working hard this spring," says O'Brien. "There is no reason that Piedmont cannot win conference next year."
O'Brien, a college volleyball standout from the University of Iowa, takes over a Montevallo team that finished 2007 with an 11-27 overall record. However, Montevallo will return next season with its roster intact.
O'Brien earned her bachelor of science degree in sports, health, leisure and physical studies from the University of Iowa in 1999. She completed her master's degree in public administration from Piedmont in 2001. She has also served as Piedmont's Senior Women Administrator, mentoring many student-athletes.
Players under O'Brien have excelled in the classroom, with her teams accumulating a 3.26 GPA. O'Brien believes that next year's Lady Lions will remain successful.
"It's them on the court, not the coach."
O'Brien's tenure lasted eight seasons. She has produced a 182-109 record with two GSAC championships, the first coming in 2001. She was named GSAC Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2007. The Lady Lions' volleyball team remains in good shape after losing just two seniors.
"This team has so much potential and they have been working hard this spring," says O'Brien. "There is no reason that Piedmont cannot win conference next year."
O'Brien, a college volleyball standout from the University of Iowa, takes over a Montevallo team that finished 2007 with an 11-27 overall record. However, Montevallo will return next season with its roster intact.
O'Brien earned her bachelor of science degree in sports, health, leisure and physical studies from the University of Iowa in 1999. She completed her master's degree in public administration from Piedmont in 2001. She has also served as Piedmont's Senior Women Administrator, mentoring many student-athletes.
Players under O'Brien have excelled in the classroom, with her teams accumulating a 3.26 GPA. O'Brien believes that next year's Lady Lions will remain successful.
"It's them on the court, not the coach."
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