May 18, 2010
Russo-Thorpe new women's volleyball coach at NAIT
May 18, 2010 – Former national volleyball star Erminia Russo-Thorpe is the new head coach of the NAIT Ooks women's volleyball program.
The announcement was made by Linda Henderson, NAIT's Director of Athletics and Recreation.
"I'm overjoyed to be able to say that she is joining us," Henderson commented. "She is a perfect fit for a developing program like ours."
Thorpe, wife of the Edmonton Eskimos' assistant coach and special teams coordinator, is a member of the UBC Sports Hall of Fame and was inducted to the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame "Leaders and Legends" in 2002.
Born in Kelowna, B.C., she was CIS coach of the year in 1998 after an outstanding playing career that included play in two world championships, three world cups, two Pan-American Games and the 1996 Olympics at Atlanta.
In recent years, she has concentrated on coaching at a club in St. Albert, but said the opportunity at NAIT carried so much promise that she jumped at the opportunity.
Thorpe succeeds Keith Lundgren, who spent two years at NAIT and recently accepted an offer from Thompson Rivers University after leading the Ooks to provincial playoffs last season.
For more information, please contact:
Linda Henderson
Director of Athletics and Recreation
P 780.471.8803 E lhenders@nait.ca