MSU hires new volleyball coach from MWSU Campus Watch on Vimeo.

Natalie Rawson, assistant volleyball coach from 2010-2013, will return to Midwestern State University’s volleyball program, this time as its head coach.

“It’s amazing to be back. I feel like I’m back home even though I’m not originally from Wichita Falls. But I’ve spent some good time here,” Rawson said. “I definitely put down a lot of roots when I was here. So being back is very exciting for me.”

Rawson left her job as head coach at Newman University in Wichita, Kansas, where she led the Division II team to their two most successful seasons. Midwestern’s team has experienced trouble of its own lately, and Rawson said her goal for her first year would be to simply improve.

“I want to see improvement. To me, that’s success. Wins are going to come from that,” Rawson said. “Being able to see them improve and to really develop a culture that really stands for what our beliefs are and that our actions uphold.”

The volleyball team is a fairly young squad, but Rawson said that just gives her more freedom to help them grow into successful players.

“That’s exciting for me because I like having players like that. Being able to develop them every day in practice and for them to be empowered by what they’re learning so they know what to do in a game and how to fix things,” Rawson said. “As far as taking them from one stage to the next, really just breaking down their fundamentals and having them feel confident in themselves is really where that experience comes from.”

Rawson met with the players for the first time today and said they are ready to start working with their new coach.

“I think we’re on the same page that we’re ready to work hard and do whatever it takes,” Rawson said. “Right now it’s all about making sure we’re all getting on the same page, working together for a common goal.”

Additional reporting by Mark Campbell.