Noelle Rooke has resigned as the University of Illinois Springfield volleyball coach to return to her native California.
She grew up in the Los Angeles suburb of Agoura and her husband, Max Rooke, is in his first season as a NCAA Division I women’s soccer assistant at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. Max Rooke was a UIS men’s soccer assistant and director of coaching for the Springfield Area Soccer Association.
“I’ve coached for 18 years at four institutions,” Noelle Rooke said. “It’s time to put my husband’s career first.”
Rooke coached the Prairie Stars for three years. UIS wrapped up the 2014 season last weekend. It finished with a 10-18 overall record and a 2-16 Great Lakes Valley Conference mark.
Rooke came to UIS from NCAA Division I Mercer. Her coaching record at UIS was 28-59 overall and 8-46 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
“I strongly feel I’m leaving it better than I got it,” Rooke said. “We’ve changed the culture. I hope it’s been a positive experience for these kids on and off the court, and I think that it is all about changing the culture.”
The story was reported by The State Journal-Register on November 15, 2014.
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