Natalie Aldrich Steps Down as Lady Cardinals Volleyball Assistant Coach

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Volleyball assistant moves into private business

May 13, 2008

Former Lamar University assistant volleyball coach Natalie Aldrich played an important role in the Lady Cardinals rise to the top of the Southland Conference over the last three years. As of April 30, she has moved into a private business venture with her husband, former assistant basketball coach Brandon Aldrich.

Lady Cardinals head coach Justin Gibert brought Aldrich on board as his assistant coach when he took the job in the spring of 2004 and the pair immediately went to work to get Lamar back to the top of the Southland Conference. In three years Lamar achieved that success by claiming the second SLC title in school history.

After making the conference tournament in 2005 and 2006, Lamar powered their way to a regular season conference championship and the No. 1 seed in the SLC tournament in 2007.

Gibert said the success of the Lamar volleyball program over his three years at the helm would not have been possible without Aldrich.

"Natalie really played a huge part in getting the Lamar volleyball program back to the top of the Southland Conference, and I appreciate all of her efforts" head coach Justin Gibert said. "We had a great and very successful partnership between us. I wish her well and support her in her new venture."

Aldrich, a 2004 graduate of Louisiana Tech, who is stepping away from the game of volleyball for the first time since she was 10 years old, said she is grateful for the opportunity she was given by Lamar University.

"I really enjoyed my time at Lamar," Aldrich said. "It was great to be a part of building a championship program. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. I truly appreciate Justin and everyone at Lamar for the opportunity I was given. I'm definitely going to miss the girls, but it will be exciting to see Lamar volleyball continue to get better. There are a lot more championships in the future for the Lady Cardinals. I wish them the best of luck." 

A national search for Aldrich's replacement is currently under way.