July 12, 2007

COOPER NAMED HEAD WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL COACH
AT MONTCLAIR STATE

WILL SERVE AS THE FIRST FULL-TIME COACH IN PROGRAM HISTORY

The Montclair State Department of Athletics has announced the hiring of Elise Cooper as the new head women’s volleyball coach. Cooper becomes the first full-time head coach in the history of the program, which began in 1989, and fifth overall.
 

Cooper comes to Montclair State from College of St. Benedict in Minnesota where she served as an assistant coach for the last two seasons with the Blazers. While assisting with the volleyball program, Cooper helped CSB reach the championship game in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) where the Blazers fell to fourth-ranked Concordia in the title game. Saint Benedict finished the year at 15-13 and ranked among the Top 50 in seven NCAA Division III statistical categories and had two players chosen to the MIAC All-Conference Team.
 

"I am excited about the opportunity to work within this department and with the volleyball program,” said Cooper. “There is a strong tradition of success in Red Hawk Athletics. MSU Volleyball is on the rise and I am looking to build on the strengths of this team and develop a strong tradition of success with these women."
 

In addition to her coaching duties at CSB, Cooper also served as an Assistant Athletic Director. In her administrative role that was funded by the NCAA Division III Ethnic Minority and Women’s Internship Grant Program, she oversaw the annual athletic fund, which increased its membership by 54 percent and more than doubled in alumnae participation. Cooper also served as a co-advisor of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
 

Prior to her appointment at College of Saint Benedict, Cooper also served as an assistant coach at Cedar Valley College in Lancaster, Texas and at New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, New Mexico where she was responsible for various aspects of the program, including the planning and execution of practices as well as recruiting. Cooper has also served as a clinic instructor at various camps and has also coached on the high school and club levels.
 

“I am very excited that we were able to fill a full-time position for the head women's volleyball coach,” said MSU Director of Athletics Holly Gera. “We are confident that Elise will be a great addition to our staff. Her knowledge of volleyball as well as her administrative experience will be assets to the athletic department. We look forward to a successful 2007 season.”

Cooper earned her bachelor’s degree in Theatre and Dance from the University of Wyoming in 1998, where she played four seasons for the Cowgirls helping the club to the 1994 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Tournament. She is currently completing her master’s degree in sports administration from New Mexico Highlands.