ALPINE, Texas --- Marilyn McReavy-Nolen, who was instrumental in Sul Ross State University’s early dominance in women’s collegiate volleyball, has returned as the Lady Lobos’ new head coach.

Nolen assumed her duties as head volleyball coach and lecturer in Physical Education June 1. Her extensive resume includes more than 800 wins, starting at Sul Ross and continuing in major college programs, including New Mexico State University, Utah State, Kentucky, Florida, University of North Florida and concluding at St. Louis University, where she retired in 2003.

“Marilyn’s experience and achievements speak for themselves,” Sul Ross State athletics director John Tyree. “She is an icon in the sport and her vast connections will be a key to recruiting and rebuilding the Lady Lobo volleyball program.”

Prior to her retirement, she was the third winningest active volleyball coach in the U.S., including three national championships, two at Sul Ross and one at Utah State. She is a member of the Women’s Sports Foundation Hall of Fame, American Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and was one of the inaugural recipients of USA Volleyball’s All-Time Great Coaches award.  McReavy-Nolen was inducted into the Sul Ross Hall of Honor in 1987.

As a player, McReavy-Nolen was a member of the U.S. Pan American, Olympic and World Games teams, and competed internationally from 1967-75. She helped establish volleyball as an intercollegiate sport at Sul Ross and during her coaching tenure, the Lady Lobos won two Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) national championships.

While teaching in the Houston School District, she established the first national training center for the U.S. Olympic volleyball team in Pasadena. She began coaching at Utah State in 1976, and during her six-year tenure, led her teams to a national championship, as well as second, third and eighth-place finishes. Future stops were at Kentucky (1982-84); Florida (1984-91); North Florida (1991-94); and St. Louis (1994-2003).

McReavy-Nolen, a native of Big Lake, received an A.A. degree from Howard Junior College, Big Spring; B.S. from Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State), San Marcos; and a Master of Education degree from Sul Ross.