DePaul University Athletics
Volleyball Adds Wilson as Assistant Coach
5/24/2016 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
CHICAGO - DePaul volleyball head coach Nadia Edwards announced the hiring of Arielle Wilson as an assistant coach for the Blue Demons on Tuesday. Wilson comes to DePaul with strong ties to Chicago in addition to USA national team and international playing experience.
Wilson played collegiate volleyball at Penn State between 2007 and 2011 where she was a three-time AVCA All-American and part of four national championships. She has spent the past six years playing professional volleyball overseas as a middle blocker. Her recent destinations include Piacenza, Italy and Vicenza, Italy.
"Arielle has had quite a decorated career playing for Penn State Women's Volleyball team, our USA program and overseas as a professional athlete," said Edwards. "She comes from a strong pedigree of volleyball and a winning tradition playing at Penn State, understands the framework of achieving success and shares the vision that I have for the future of this program."
Wilson is a familiar face around the city of Chicago and has had a hand in helping multiple programs around the city. The Broadview, Ill. native played high school volleyball at Proviso East High School and has held a skills camp at her alma mater.
Wilson's recent contributions to the Chicago volleyball scene include coaching at New Wave, a volleyball club out of Oakbrook, Ill., and coaching positions and clinics for Chicago's 1st Alliance Volleyball Club. Starting on June 13, Wilson plans to coach the 1st Alliance elite beach volleyball program for two months.
In the Penn State records books, Wilson owns the program's top hitting percentage. She finished her career with a .468 hitting percentage, 35 points higher than the second-best. Wilson also currently sits fifth on Penn State's all-time block leaders list.
"Her strengths are in training middles and blocking and I am excited for her to take over that role," stated Edwards. "We look forward to her coming in to further enhance our staff and help our program continue to propel forward within the BIG EAST and nationally!"
In 2013, Wilson spent time going through extensive training with the USA National Volleyball Team.
Outside of her time as a professional volleyball player, Wilson has spent time as a camp coach in multiple locations and a summer volunteer for Penn State, DePaul and UIC.
Wilson graduated from Penn State in May of 2011 with a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology with a focus in Fitness Studies. She was an Academic All-Big Ten Honoree in the 2008.
