40th season as UNE Head Coach (2019); 728-435 overall
Karol L'Heureux has logged 40 seasons (1,163 matches) as head coach of the women's volleyball program at UNE. Through the 2019 season, she ranked 7th in career victories among active coaches in Division III, and tied for 12th all-time.
In October 2016, L'Heureux was inducted into the University of New England Varsity Club Athletics Hall of Fame. Her 1991 women's volleyball squad was included in the 2007 induction class, and her 1993 women's volleyball team was part of the 2017 class. In 2002, she was bestowed with the University's Honorary Alumna Award.
She started on campus in 1979, and through until early 2006, she served as the Director of Athletics. Back in the 80's and early 90's, L'Heureux also coached both the men's and women's basketball programs.
In 2010, the Nor'easters posted their highest win total (20) in 12 seasons, and advanced to the conference semifinals for the second time. UNE's third trip into the league's final four came in 2016 after knocking off the second seed, Roger Williams, in four sets.
UNE has qualified for the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) postseason tournament in each of the last 20 years. L'Heureux was voted CCC Coach of the Year in 2006, and UNE reached the semifinal round of the conference championship for the first time.
Prior to the Nor'easters joining the CCC, she led the program to 10 conference championships, including eight consecutive titles from 1988-95. Two of those years (1991, 1993), UNE advanced to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Championship.
L'Heureux began her career at UNE in 1979 when she was brought to campus to start varsity programs in women's volleyball, women's basketball, and softball. In addition to her historic women's volleyball coaching career, she served as head coach of women's basketball for 14 seasons and softball for eight.
Aside from her vast coaching experience, L'Heureux held the position of director of athletics from 1980-2006, overseeing significant varsity sport program expansion, facility development and full-time staff additions. At the time of her hiring, L'Heureux was the first female director of athletics in the NAIA Northeast Region and one of four nationally who was responsible for men's athletics. She was instrumental in UNE making the transition from the NAIA to the NCAA, which culminated in 1999. L'Heureux also facilitated the creation of the University's current nickname and logo after the merger with Westbrook College in 1996.
A Sanford native and now resident of Biddeford, L'Heureux is a graduate of the University of Maine Presque Isle and has been inducted into both the Owls’ Athletics Hall of Fame and the Maine Sports Legends Hall of Honor.Â
CCC Coach of the Year (2006)
Previous Head Coaching:
University of New England / Women's Basketball
University of New England / Softball
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