Sports
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Cole to Stoke Fire of Occidental Volleyball |
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Courtesy Occidental Sports Information Office Occidental athletic director Dixon Farmer has promoted Michelle Cole from assistant coach to head coach of the Oxy volleyball program. Cole replaces Dan Conners, who resigned to take an assistant coaching position at UCLA. Cole brings an impressive record of success as a player and a growing resume of coaching experience. A four-year starter at Texas A& M, Cole played left side and led the nation in digs her senior year. She earned All Big 12 honors in 2001 and helped the Aggies advance to the Elite 8 her sophomore and senior years. Cole graduated with a Bachelors' of Science degree in Agricultural Development in 2002. "A former coach of mine liked to say ‘You have to keep the giggle in the game' and that's what we're going to do this season," promises Cole. "We're not going to worry about what people think of us or our ranking last year. We're going to focus on what we can do to improve and have fun doing it." Cole, a native of Temecula, Calif., coached the San Gabriel Volleyball Club before assisting Conners last fall. She is now charged with improving a program that went 2-13 in 2005 and has fallen on hard times of late, winning just four contests the past two seasons. "Michelle was the first person I called when Dan resigned," states Farmer. "She has a wealth of volleyball knowledge, was very well liked by those on the team last year, and her appointment will provide a seamless step in improving Tiger volleyball." Occidental volleyball opens the season Sept. 2 at La Sierra University and plays host to Bethany College (CA) Sept. 8 at Rush Gym. The Tigers begin SCIAC play Sept. 19 at La Verne, which will be seeking its seventh straight conference title. |
