Abbey Sutherland

Position: Head Coach Alma Mater: St. Norbert College, 2004

Abbey Sutherland begins her second season as the head coach of the Golden Eagle volleyball program.

Last season, Sutherland guided Southern Miss to a 19-12 record and a fourth-place finish in Conference USA. Sutherland is one of only two first-year head coaches in volleyball to record a winning season at Southern Miss. She placed two players on the all-conference first team.

Prior to taking the head coaching job, Sutherland was an assistant coach for the past six seasons, including four as a full-time assistant. Her duties included on-the-floor coaching duties, recruiting, scouting and handling team travel.

Before becoming a full-time assistant, Sutherland served as a graduate assistant, while completing requirements for a master's degree in teaching languages, with a Spanish emphasis in 2006.

Prior to coming to Southern Miss, she was a standout setter at St. Norbert College in DePere, Wis., where she was a four-year letterwinner. She completed her career with 4,554 assists, 1,503 digs and 128 aces. Sutherland was a three-time, first-team all-conference selection and a two-time conference player of the year. She twice received honorable-mention all-region honors.

Sutherland helped St. Norbert finish first in the Midwest Conference in 2002 and advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. She was voted her team's most valuable player as a junior and senior. She also received academic all-conference honors as well.

Sutherland prepped at West Bend High School in West Bend, Wis., where she was a three-year letterwinner in volleyball. She was a first-team all-county selection, second-team all-conference and honorable-mention all-state. She received the Coaches' and Hustle Awards. She played in the Wisconsin All-Star match and helped her team to three conference titles.

The West Bend, Wis., native received her bachelor's degree in Spanish and secondary education in 2004 from St. Norbert College.