UMR names Roberts as assistant volleyball coach

Heather Roberts spent her collegiate volleyball career playing in the state of Missouri – and now she is returning to the Show-Me State in a coaching capacity.

Roberts has been named as the assistant coach for the University of Missouri-Rolla volleyball program that will open play in the fall of 2007. She comes to UMR after spending the last two seasons as a graduate assistant coach at Bemidji State University in Minnesota.

“I am quite pleased to have Heather joining our staff,” said UMR director of athletics Mark Mullin. “She will be an excellent addition to the outstanding coaching staff we enjoy at UMR. I am confident that Heather's enthusiasm and abilities will make her an immediate asset to the entire department.”

“I’m very excited about the opportunity to being part of a unique experience to help start a program from the ground up,” Roberts said. “Jason (Holt, UMR’s head coach) has done a great job of recruiting the talent that we’ll have to work with and I’m excited to get the chance to work with these players.”

“I am thrilled about having Heather joining our staff here at UMR,” Holt said. “She is a bright, energetic and talented coach and her energy and intensity will add something to our program. Heather has gained some very good coaching experience and she will bring a lot of new ideas to our team.

“I think she will do a great job and know she is eager to get started,” Holt added.

Roberts, who is originally from Koloa, Hawaii, was a four-year starter at William Woods University where she played as a setter and outside hitter. She was a three-time all-conference selection in the American Midwest Conference, including first-team honors in 2002, and served as the Owls’ team captain in final two seasons at the school. She earned awards for her play as a setter from Region V and the AMC as its “Setter of the Month.”

She also earned academic all-conference honors on three occasions from the American Midwest Conference.

In addition, Roberts has been involved with numerous youth programs over the years. She coached the 12-, 14- and 16-and under teams with the Po’okela Volleyball Club prior to her arrival at William Woods, then during her time in Fulton was involved with the Central Missouri Volleyball Club coaching players from ages 12 to the 18-and-under teams for three years.

Her duties included practice planning and coordination of travel and tournaments for those teams. She also assisted the Kauai High School team in Hawaii during the summers with conditioning and weight training.

Prior to the 2006 season, Roberts was a court coach at the University of Florida’s volleyball camp.

Roberts has also worked with the USA Volleyball program in Colorado Springs, Colo., where she served as a media relations intern for three years responsible for publications, releases and other media coordinations, including the IMPACT program in which she is certified by the governing body.