– Abilene Christian discovered a well-recognized face in Europe to take the reins of its volleyball program, saying that Wildcat Corridor of Famer Ijeoma (IJ) Moronu Alstrup would be the new head coach.Moronu Alstrup, who performed for and served the Wildcats as an assistant coach, went into the ACU Athletics Corridor of Fame final August.”I am past excited to welcome IJ, an ACU Athletics Corridor of Famer, again residence to Abilene,” stated ACU Vice President for Athletics Zack Lassiter. “Her ardour for the mission of this college, mixed along with her worldwide expertise as a participant and coach, makes her uniquely certified for this chance. I am assured the ACU neighborhood shares my enthusiasm to see one in every of our personal main the volleyball program to new heights.”Moronu Alstrup is among the nice gamers within the historical past of ACU volleyball, ending her profession second on ACU’s profession assists record (4,813 from 2007-10), which is the place she nonetheless resides. Alstrup – the setter on three of the best groups in program historical past – can be tenth on this system’s all-time blocks record with 300. The Wildcats had been a mixed 97-35 in her 4 seasons however had been 82-21 within the closing three seasons with an look within the NCAA Division II South Central Area Event in 2010. Alstrup was a two-time first-team all-LSC choice who was the LSC MVP at setter in 2010. She additionally served two stints as an assistant coach at ACU after her collegiate profession ended.”There will not be sufficient phrases to specific my pleasure about this chance to guide the Wildcats into their subsequent period,” stated Moronu Alstrup. “As a former ACU participant and coach, being on the head of this system has at all times been an aspiration of mine. Initially, I might prefer to thank Zack Lassiter, Chris Ballard, and the remainder of the search committee for giving me this chance. Secondly, I might prefer to thank my former ACU coaches, Kellen Mock, Lindsey Campbell, and Jason Bibler, in addition to my many teammates and gamers which have supported me far past my time as a Wildcat. The longer term is extraordinarily brilliant for our younger wildcat crew and I can’t wait to deliver my expertise overseas again residence to Abilene, Texas. Go Wildcats!”Moronu Alstrup started her head teaching profession in 2019 at Farum Holte Volley in Copenhagen, the place she served as the pinnacle coach for the First Division girls’s crew. Then in 2022, she grew to become the co-head volleyball coach at Gentofte Volley. A few of her head teaching accolades whereas overseas embody two bronze medal league finishes and a Danish U21 Championship in 2022.Earlier than Moronu Alstrup’s time as a head coach, she earned skilled expertise each on and off the courtroom. She served as an assistant coach at Abilene Christian from 2012 to 2015. She additionally performed professionally overseas in Europe from 2011 to 2012 and from 2015 to 2019. The groups she performed for included Olympia Neopolis Cyprus, VC Tirol Austria, KA Iceland, Lindesberg Sweden and Lyngby Volley Denmark.She completed her undergrad profession at Abilene Christian College in December 2011 with a bachelor’s diploma in train science and kinesiology, plus a minor in enterprise administration. She additionally went on to earn a grasp’s diploma in organizational improvement from ACU in December 2016.Moronu Alstrup and her husband, Christopher, have two kids.”Whereas IJ is an distinctive coach and participant, IJ has a coronary heart for ACU and honors the mission of ACU in all she does. As her former coach and coworker, I can’t be extra excited for the way forward for the ACU volleyball program underneath Ijeoma Moronu’s management. For people who had the privilege to look at IJ play, I guarantee you she coaches with the identical enthusiasm and fervour as she performs! She’s going to deliver power and excellence to the ACU Volleyball program.””I’m past thrilled that IJ has been named head coach at ACU. She was a big a part of why I selected to come back to ACU in 2015 and I’m excited to see the influence that she will be able to make on the way forward for the volleyball program. IJ has continued to be part of my life even after our time collectively at ACU ended and I drastically cherish her friendship. Apart from being an exceptional volleyball participant and recruiter, IJ is an excellent chief and unimaginable mentor. I do know that the way forward for ACU volleyball is in good palms and can be blessed by their time with IJ.””IJ shouldn’t be solely a improbable participant and athlete, however she has additionally within the a few years I’ve identified her, been an awesome human being, caring for everybody round her to a fault. Up to now a number of years she has additionally grow to be a very good coach. She teaches the sport in a really aggressive but parenting manner, the place she manages to develop each very younger athletes but in addition totally developed professional gamers. I’ve little question that she can be an enormous asset to the college, and I can be cheering on all the way in which from over right here :)”
