In her first season at the helm of the MSU Texas program, Valerie Armstrong led the Mustangs to a 5-23 record and a 3-17 mark in Lone Star Conference play. She guided the Maroon and Gold to their first win over a ranked opponent since the 2011 season when Midwestern downed No. 16 Central Oklahoma - 3-2 - on Aug. 24. Armstrong was chosen to serve as an assistant to Joe Trinsey (USA coach at World University Games '17 and assistant in the Rio Olympics) for the USA side in the Binh Dien Volleyball Cup this month in Tarny Ky, Vietnam. The tournament boasts professional and national teams from around the world. Armstrong constructed a successful program at Vernon College where she served as head coach for four seasons from 2009-12. The Chaps improved from 7 wins to 13 to 17 before producing one of the program's top campaigns in 2012 posting a 32-7 mark as NJCAA Region V runners-up ending the year ranked 15th nationally. Armstrong accepted an assistant's position at Alabama State in 2013. The Hornets produced a program record 25 wins sweeping eight matches in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) to earn their first NCAA Division I tournament bid. Armstrong spent the last four seasons as the top assistant for Glenn Kiriyama at Binghamton (N.Y.). The Bearcats advanced to America East postseason play in each of her four seasons on staff reaching the finals last fall. Armstrong began her coaching career as an assistant at NAIA University of the Southwest in Hobbs, N.M. in 2007 before taking her first head coaching job at Colby (Kan.) Community College in 2008. Playing Career Armstrong completed her collegiate playing career as a two-year standout at Oklahoma Panhandle State where she earned OPSU Female Athlete of the Year honors after leading the Aggies with 2.50 kills and 0.47 blocks per set as a senior in 2006. She also earned Heartland Conference All-Academic honors. Armstrong also played two seasons at Eastern Wyoming College where garnered national all-academic honors. Personal A native of Brule, Neb., she received her master's degree from Concordia-Irvine (Calif.) in coaching and athletics administration in 2012. She earned her bachelor's degree in agriculture business from Oklahoma Panhandle State in 2007 and an associate's degree from Eastern Wyoming in 2005. The Armstrong File Assistant Coach at University of the Southwest - 2007 Head Coach at Colby (Kan.) Community College - 2008 Head Coach at Vernon Junior College - 2009-12 Assistant Coach at Alabama State - 2013 Assistant Coach at Binghamton - 2014-17 Head Coach at Midwestern State - 2018-