Liz Hart (née Holmes) became the sixth head coach in Northern Kentucky University volleyball history on March 18, 2011. Entering her second full season and third overall guiding the Norse, Hart has compiled a coaching record of 40-14.
In 2011, Hart led the Norse to a 26-6 record, the 19th consecutive 20-win season for the program, and the team’s fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in the last five years. The Norse advanced to the second round before being eliminated by regional host Hillsdale.
As interim head coach in 2010, Hart’s Norse compiled a 14-8 record in its last 22 matches to post a 20-14 overall mark,including a 10-4 record in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
Prior to taking the head coaching position, Hart served as an assistant coach with the Norse for two seasons, helping guide the Norse to a first-place finish in the GLVC East Division in 2008.
A graduate of Mother of Mercy High School in Cincinnati, Hart began her NKU playing career by collecting GLVC Freshman of the Year in 2004. She later earned honorable mention All-America accolades from the AVCA as a sophomore and junior.
As a senior, Hart was named GLVC Player of the Year, Great Lakes Region Player of the Year and the GLVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year for volleyball. Hart also led NKU to a 26-9 record and helped the Norse secure a berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament. She later was named to both the AVCA and Daktronics All-America first teams.
Hart finished her career as NKU’s all-time leader in kills with 1,850, and she led the GLVC in hitting percentage her final three years. In addition, Holmes finished seventh all-time in NKU history with 1,191 career digs and second in block assists with 291.
After earning the Margery Rouse Athlete of Distinction Award from the NKU athletic council, Hart was later named the GLVC’s 2007-08 Woman of the Year. She also earned an NCAA postgraduate scholarship and was a four-time member of the GLVC All-Academic squad.
Hart resides in Cincinnati with her husband, A.J.
