New University of Illinois Springfield volleyball coach Noelle Rooke spent the previous eight seasons as the head coach at NCAA Division I Mercer.
First-year UIS athletic director Kim Pate announced Wednesday that Rooke is replacing Angie Riggle as the Prairie Stars’ coach. Riggle’s contract was not renewed after three seasons and expired in February.
“Coach Rooke brings a broad range of collegiate coaching experience as well as a tremendous passion for coaching the sport of volleyball,” Pate said. “I was extremely impressed with Rooke’s coaching philosophy and commitment to the student-athlete experience and look forward to the comprehensive development of UIS volleyball as a respectable and competitive Division II program under her leadership.”
The 38-year-old Rooke left Mercer as the winningest coach in program history.
Rooke was featured in an March 15, 2012, article in The State Journal-Register.
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