WICHITA - Natalie Rawson has been named the Head Volleyball Coach at Newman University, Athletic Director Vic Trilli announced.  Rawson has spent the last three seasons as the First Assistant Coach at Midwestern State.
 
“Natalie brings an undeniable passion for volleyball and brings a contagious energy to coaching,” Trilli said. “She has had success as a Division I player, and has coaching experience at a variety of levels, including NCAA Division I and II. I am excited to see what she can do for the Newman volleyball program.”
 
She made a solid impact in her time with the Mustangs, helping the team to three Lone Star Conference Postseason Tournament appearances while helping mentor the program's first NCAA Division II All-American in Kiara Jordan (2011), a two-time LSC Libero of the Year.
 
“I'm really excited to be a part of the Newman family,” Rawson said. “Seeing how much athletics is growing at Newman, it's an exciting time to be a part of that and to take the volleyball program to the next level.”
 
Prior to arriving at MSU, Rawson spent the 2009 season as the top assistant at the University of Louisiana-Monroe, an NCAA Division I program in the Sun Belt Conference. She served as the interim head coach of the program after John Schmidt resigned following the season.
 
The California native spent the previous two years as the assistant coach at Marshalltown (Iowa) Community College where she was instrumental in helping the team to a 54-44 overall record.
 
Rawson mentored two NJCAA All-Americans at Marshalltown as the Tigers soared to a No. 11 national ranking during her two-year stint (2007-08).
 
Before her time as an assistant at Marshalltown, she assisted with the Fusion Volleyball program in Valencia, Calif. Her technical expertise helped numerous players sign with Division I programs from across the country.
 
Rawson was a standout volleyball and softball student-athlete at Colgate University from 2001-05 where she earned first-team all-conference recognition and was named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year in volleyball.
 
She twice led the league in digs along with earning her way on to the Patriot League Honor Roll on two occasions.
 
Rawson officially begins April 1, 2013.