When the Eastern volleyball team takes the court this weekend at the Pepsi/Super 8 Invitational, the Panthers will do so with a new assistant coach.

Aaron Roberson begins his first season on head coach Brenda Winkeler’s staff after he replaced student assistant coach Carrie Stevens in July. Roberson previously held the varsity head coaching position at Manual High School in Kentucky for the past three years.

While at Manual, Roberson led his alma mater to a Kentucky ‘Top 10’ ranking during the 2002 season. During his tenure the team also won the Jefferson County Invitational in 2002 and placed third in the same event in 2002. His coaching record at Manual was an impressive 79-37.

Winkeler said Roberson has not missed a beat jumping from the high school game to the college level.

“He is doing a great job,” Winkeler said. “He works mostly on the left and right side and he has done fine.”

Not only has Roberson’s transition to college coaching been successful, but Winkeler said the team is learning from him and has responded well to the new coach.

“Our team has really adjusted well to him,” Winkeler said. “Having a new coach will take time to adjust too, but our left and right sides’ have really benefited from him.”

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Roberson is fitting in. He was hand picked by Winkeler, who in her three years as Panther head coach the team is 48-43, including a trip to the 2002 NCAA Tournament.

Besides coaching at Manual, Roberson has also worked with the perennial national power Kentucky-Indiana Volleyball Association, as an assistant coach of the 18-Red and head coach of the 18-White.

Roberson graduated from the University of Louisville in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in sports administration.

Sports Reporter Mike Gilbert can be reached at [email protected]