MSU-N narrows search for the next head volleyball coach

Montana State University-Northern Athletic Director Christian Oberquell is narrowing in on the next head volleyball coach at MSU-N.

The final two candidates for the position vacated by veteran head coach Bill Huebsch will be on campus in the coming days, starting with Stephens College head coach Rose Obunaga this afternoon.

Obunaga has been the head coach at Stephens for the past six seasons. The Kakamega, Kenya native is no stranger to NAIA. Following her junior college playing career, Obunaga attended Central Methodist (Missiouri) where she earned first-team NAIA All-American honors. In 2005, she transferred to Columbia College and helped the Cougars to a 35-4 overall record and runner-up finish at the NAIA National Tournament. Leading the team in kills, kills/set, blocks, solo blocks and blocks/set, Obunaga added to her long list of accolades with first-team NAIA All-American and All-Tournament honors.

At Columbia, Obunaga served as a student assistant volleyball coach while completing her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (2006). In 2011, Obunaga completed a master’s degree in Public Service Administration from the University of Evansville, where she served as a graduate assistant coach. Other coaching opportunities for Obunaga have included a volunteer position at Washington University in St. Louis and a head coaching position with H2 St. Louis Volleyball Club U17s.

Monday, Nathan Baker will interview for the position, as well. Baker most recently served as an assistant coach at Alabama A&M and has 15 years of coaching experience. He served as an assistant coach for three years at NCAA Division I Virginia Commonwealth University. Prior to his position at VCU, he was the head coach at NCAA Division II institutions Tusculum College and the University of West Alabama. Baker was an assistant coach for three seasons at Division I Campbell University from 2003-06. In 2002, he landed his first head coaching position as the volleyball and softball coach at Colorado Northwestern College, a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association.

For both head coaching candidates, there will be a public forum today and Monday 4:30-5:30 p.m. in Hensler Auditorium.