Jan. 30, 1997

Former Boilermaker Suzanne Stewart Named Assistant Coach

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue volleyball coach Joey Vrazel has announced the hiring of former Boilermaker Suzanne Stewart as the program's second assistant coach. Stewart joins top assistant Ruth Lawanson on the Boilermakers' staff. Her responsibilities will include helping coach the middle blockers, recruiting correspondence and scouting.

"I'm thrilled to have a Purdue person on our staff, and I'm excited that it's Suzanne," Vrazel said. "She obviously will help us in recruiting with her ability to sell Purdue University, and she also has had the experience of competing in the Big Ten Conference. Suzanne is extremely loyal to Purdue, has a lot of enthusiasm and is very serious about coaching. It's also nice to have someone who played for us and knows our style and what we teach."

Stewart played at Purdue from 1992-95, including her senior season under Vrazel. She amassed 427 kills (29th on the school's career list), 132 total blocks (30th all-time) and 427 digs (23rd all-time) as a middle hitter and outside hitter. Stewart received the team's Most Improved Player Award her sophomore year and both the Coaches' Award (for always giving 100 percent and doing whatever it takes to help the team) and the Cover Award (for getting to the most blocked hitting attempts) as a senior. Her career highs included 21 kills against Michigan (Oct. 28, 1994); six blocks (twice); and 18 digs at Northwestern (Nov. 5, 1994).

"It's great to be back at Purdue," Stewart said. "I consider myself extremely fortunate to be in this position so early in my career. I learned so much from Joey in one year as a player, and I know I will learn even more working for her."

A native of La Porte, Ind., Stewart earned her bachelor's degree in movement and sport sciences from Purdue in 1996. She spent the first semester of the 1996-97 school year at Concordia University, an NCAA Division III school in River Forest, Ill., working on her master's degree in gerontology and serving as a graduate assistant volleyball coach.