February 22, 2005
Release courtesy of Paul Misner, sports information director Univ. of Dubuque

DUBUQUE, IOWA . . . Dan Runkle, University Athletic Director, today announced the appointment of Cole Tallman as head women's volleyball coach.

"I am pleased to welcome Cole to our full-time coaching staff," commented Runkle. "I feel very confident with Cole leading the volleyball team and helping the Spartans remain a threat in the Iowa Conference."

Prior to joining the University of Dubuque, Tallman, had been the coach at Division I Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, NC, for the past two seasons. He was also the head coach of the volleyball programs at the University of St. Thomas (MN) from 2000-2003, Furman University (SC) from 1993-1998, Anderson College (SC) from 1988-1993 and Urbana University (OH) during 1980-1981 and spent four seasons as a volunteer assistant at the University of Georgia (1985-88).

Cole Tallman has been no stranger to success over his 19-year career, forging an impressive 580-227 (.718) record as a collegiate head coach. Tallman has also guided his teams to ten conference titles, eight of which came with him as the head coach.

Along with the on-court success, Tallman's teams have traditionally excelled in the classroom as well. Tallman has seen two of his teams win the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award, three players earned Academic All-America awards and countless others have been named to Academic All-Region and All-Conference teams.

Tallman built his program at St. Thomas into an annual contender in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC), leading the Tommies to a pair of MIAC regular-season titles in his four seasons. Before taking the reigns at St. Thomas, Tallman posted a 152-72 record, including a 61-32 Southern Conference record, at Furman University. He led the Paladins to the school's first-ever Southern Conference championship in 1993, and also directed the program to a pair of runner-up finishes. His Paladin teams reached the conference tournament finals twice and broke seven conference, and over 30 school records. A total of 14 Furman players earned All-Conference honors during Tallman's tenure, two earned Southern Conference Player-of-the-Year honors, one earned first-team GTE Academic All-America honors, while over 30 others were named to the annual Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. Tallman won five Carolina Conference championships during his tenure at Anderson College, coached in three national tournaments, and coached six All-American players. During his seasons as a volunteer assistant coach at Georgia, the Lady Bulldogs won two Southeastern Conference titles.

Tallman, the 2002 MIAC Coach of the Year, has been named Coach of the Year in three different conferences during his 18-year career, and has claimed Coach-of-the-Year honors 12 times during his career. Tallman reached a milestone in 2003, coaching in his 750th career match. He has coached 16 consecutive 20-win seasons over his tenure in volleyball.

Tallman graduated Magna Cum Laude from Urbana University in 1976 with a BA degree in Psychology and Sociology and holds a Master's Degree in Administration (CSP) from Bowling Green University. Tallman did additional graduate coursework at Georgia, and has held several college positions in teaching, administration and student services. His experience in teaching and promoting the sport of volleyball is extensive, as he is a longtime supporter of youth coaching, clinics and camps. His summer instructional camp at Furman grew from 46 participants in 1994 to a total of 650 in 1999.

"The University of Dubuque enjoys a regional and national reputation for value-based education, a talented and concerned faculty-staff, and a campus community committed to excellence," stated Tallman. "One of the major benefits of having some success in coaching is the opportunity to become a participant in such a mission. I look forward to being a part of the unique University of Dubuque experience."

Tallman is the proud father of three children * son Cory Emerson Tallman (20), a junior at the University of Utah, and daughters Jessie Stratton Tallman (11) and Callie Brie Tallman (9).

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