Julie Torbett was named the eighth head coach in the history of the IUP women's volleyball program on June 10, 2020.
Torbett comes to the Crimson Hawks with 447 victories and 26 years of head coaching experience at the Division I level. Most recently she spent seven seasons at East Carolina University in the American Athletic Conference (AAC), where she led the Pirates to 109 victories.
During her time in Greenville, N.C., she transformed a once dormant ECU program into a contender in the AAC. Her 69 wins over the last four seasons are the best four-year stretch for the program since winning the same number from 1979-82. She's coming off a 19-11 campaign in 2019.
The Pirates enjoyed one of their finest seasons in school history in 2017, her fifth year at ECU, racking up a 22-11 overall record with a 13-7 AAC mark – good for fourth place in the league standings. ECU was picked to finish 11th in the preseason coaches’ poll. The 22 victories were the most for the Pirates since 1982 and the 20-win season was the first for the program since 2005.
Torbett enjoyed some personal accolades as well in 2017, hitting two major coaching milestones. She won her 400th career match with a 3-0 sweep of North Carolina Central in September and also became the all-time winningest head volleyball coach at ECU with a 3-1 win over South Florida in November.
Before joining ECU, Torbett had a successful two-year stint at Winthrop where she guided the Eagles to 34 victories, including a 20-8 record in Big South Conference play. In her first year in 2011, Winthrop tied for the Big South regular season championship, the first for the Eagles since 2007, and earned a No. 2 seed in the conference tournament.
Torbett's squads made an appearance in the Big South Conference Tournament in both seasons and she coached six all-conference selections - including 2011 Big South Player of the Year Becca Toor.
Torbett spent a majority of her coaching career in charge of the UNC Asheville women’s volleyball program. In 17 seasons (1994-2010) on the bench in Asheville, she led the Bulldogs to 304 victories and a pair of Big South regular season titles.
Torbett was a two-time Big South Conference Coach of the Year (2002, 2009), guided the Bulldogs to a No. 10 ranking in the South Region, and won 20-plus matches five times. In addition, she served as the department's senior woman administrator for 13 years.
She won Big South regular season titles in 2002 and 2009, posting overall records of 26-8 and 25-10, respectively. Torbett also had a 25-win year in 2005 and back-to-back 20-win seasons in 1995 and 1996.
Torbett played collegiately at Penn State University, where she was a middle back and defensive specialist under legendary head coach Russ Rose. She helped the Nittany Lions to four Atlantic 10 championships, four NCAA regional appearances, and a perfect 31-0 conference record before earning her degree in exercise and sport science in 1990.
Torbett holds her student-athletes to a higher standard in the classroom as she has coached 18 Academic All-Big South selections and several of her teams have garnered the AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) Academic Team Award which is presented to programs with a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher.
In addition to an emphasis on academics, community service also plays a large role for Torbett as she and her teams have participated in various community outreach programs. Throughout her career, Torbett's squads actively visit local elementary schools, retirement communities, and volunteer in an abundance of fundraising events.
Torbett is married to Kelvin Thomas and has three sons Nathanael, Colby and Tristan, as well as two stepchildren Kianna and Niko.
JULIE TORBETT CAPSULE
Coaching Experience
2013-2019 Head Coach, East Carolina University (7 seasons)
2011-12 Head Coach, Winthrop University (2 seasons)
1994-10 Head Coach, UNC Asheville (17 seasons)
Victories
447 Career, 41st among active DI coaches
304 at UNC Asheville, most in school history
109 at East Carolina, most in school history
34 at Winthrop, fifth in school history
Championships
2011 Big South Regular Season Champion
2009 Big South Regular Season Champion
2002 Big South Regular Season Champion
Honors/Awards
2009 Big South Coach of the Year
2002 Big South Coach of the Year
Playing Experience
1986-90 Penn State University
1982-86 Eisenhower High School, Russell, Pa.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT JULIE TORBETT
Russ Rose, AVCA Hall of Famer, Penn State head women’s volleyball coach:
“The hiring of Julie Torbett for the head coaching position at IUP is a win-win as it gives the players in the program an experienced, successful leader and returns Julie back to the state where she had her start as a high school and college student-athlete. I expect her teams to have the success that she has experienced at her other stops along the way in her career and enhance the volleyball played in the commonwealth.”
Molly Alvey, Cincinnati head women’s volleyball coach:
“Over the past seven years, I have gotten to know Julie not only as a trusted colleague but as a friend. She always has her heart and mind working for what’s best for her student-athletes. IUP is getting an exceptional coach and leader to head their volleyball program. Julie will fight for her players on and off the court and will find great success for the IUP program in doing so…a passionate coach and truly a quality human being.”
Jen Peterson, current assistant coach at UNC Asheville, former player there under Torbett:
“I had the privilege to play four years for Coach Torbett. She developed a tenacious work ethic in me that has served me well in my life and coaching career. Coach Torbett is a brilliant defensive coach and greatly increased my defensive knowledge and skills. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to play for her and her continued support in my coaching career.”
