The DePaulia

Issue date: 3/8/10 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Ohio State Coach Nadia Edwards

Nadia Edwards has been the volleyball coach at DePaul for only a few days. Her office still has no decorations; just notepads, a few books and sheets of paper. Yet Edwards already feels as if she had been a part of the DePaul athletic family for a long time.

"It's everything that I thought it would be," Edwards said. "In terms of the support staff, everybody is helpful and outgoing. Everybody wants me to succeed and [they] created a family atmosphere."

The native of Frankfort, Ill., was waiting patiently for the opportunity to come back home and to pursue her dreams of becoming a head coach.

"I always had my eye on the [DePaul] job early in the game when I started to get into coaching, since this is an institution right in the backyard of where I grew up playing volleyball," Edwards said. "So when the position opened, I definitely wanted to go for it."

Edwards went for it, and got it.

DePaul was in search for a volleyball head coach since December. In early February, Edwards came in for an interview, and DePaul Athletics Director Jean Lenti Ponsetto announced her decision just a few days later.

"Nadia stood out in a large pool of candidates who showed interest in this position," said Ponsetto. "Her coaching and playing experience gives her the background to successfully lead the volleyball program in the Big East and at a regional and national level. We are excited about the future of our volleyball program in her hands."

Edwards was a student-athlete during the Penn State volleyball dynasty, where she competed in the NCAA Final Four three years in a row, including in 1999 when the Nittany Lions won the national championship. She arrives at DePaul with five years of coaching experience at Ohio University and Ohio State.

"I had a lot of great mentors in conjunction with my playing and coaching experiences," Edwards said. "I have taken over teams that were in the same position as the team is here and [I have experience with] building fast and moving forward."

Since joining the Big East in 2005, the Blue Demons have been unable to qualify for the conference tournament. The team was 6-22 in 2009 and finished the season without a win in conference play. Edwards is ready to change that.

"Other than my experience I have great vision and determination," Edwards said. "I am definitely ready to do whatever it takes to get DePaul back on the map."

Competition starts again in August, but the team has a lot of work to do the offseason.

"[My goal is] establishing a culture and rebuilding confidence. I know they are hungry and they are excited," Edwards said.
Not only are the players excited to have the new coach around, but the DePaul athletic staff is as well. Jennifer Thomas, Assistant Director of Athletics Development, who was a part the interviewing process, is certain that Edwards was the right person for the job.

"When I first met Nadia, I could tell she was genuine in regards to her desire for the position," Thomas said. "Nadia has an energy about her that's contagious. I'm positive she will bring that energy and winning pedigree to the team, and the athletic department as well."

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