Entering her sixth season at the helm of Northern Kentucky University volleyball, Liz Hart coaches a volleyball team that is On The Rise.
Since the program’s move to Division I, Hart has orchestrated one of the most successful starts for a transitioning team in NCAA history. The Norse have posted a .602 winning percentage over the last three seasons, including a 25-7 mark in 2012, the best record for a reclassifying school in NCAA history. Hart enters this season with a 96-51 coaching record.
In 2013, NKU picked up marquee wins against Syracuse, Cincinnati and Navy before the team found itself eligible for conference postseason play in 2014. The Norse advanced to the semifinals of the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship and finished the season ranked No. 110 in the RPI among 334 Division I institutions.
As the Norse now transition into not only the Horizon League, but prepare for full Division I postseason eligibility beginning in 2016, Hart looks to push the Norse even farther.
“We use the competitive cauldron to increase competition level amongst the players and get them competing at their highest level every practice,” says Hart. The cauldron ranks each player on a variety of axes each practice, forcing each player to be at her best every moment in practice and on the game court.
The expectation of excellence continues not only on the court, but off as well. NKU’s volleyball teams have maintained a 3.66 grade point average over the last three years and have earned the AVCA’s Team Academic Award in each of the last three seasons.
Hart’s players log numerous community service hours, aiding local elementary schools and retirement homes, as well as the Ronald McDonald House in Cincinnati, Ohio. In addition, Norse volleyball players represent the program and the university on leadership boards of university, local, conference, regional and national scope.
“We want our players to graduate and leave our program with self-confidence and have the leadership skills to tackle the next part of their lives,” added Hart. “We’re bringing in student-athletes who are driven, believe in our vision and will help to build on the success of our alumni.”
Hart herself is one of those alumni, having spent her playing career representing the Black and Gold. During her playing career, Hart was named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Freshman of the Year in 2004, and in 2008 was named an NCAA Top 30 Woman of the Year recipient as well as the GLVC Player of the Year, Great Lakes Region Player of the Year, GLVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year and a first-team All-America selection from the AVCA. In addition, Hart was twice named an honorable mention All-American during her sophomore and junior years.
She stands as NKU's all-time kills leader with 1,850, ranks seventh at NKU with 1,191 career digs and second in block assists with 291.
Hart resides in Cincinnati with her husband, A.J., and their son, James.
