Fairfax, Va. - First-year head coach Jay Hosack announced the addition of former Patriot Joe Norton to the George Mason University's men's volleyball team staff.
“Joe is a tremendous resource for the guys not only as a coach, but also as a former student,” Hosack said about Norton. “I couldn't have asked for a better combination for our team.”
The former outside hitter returns to Mason after spending five seasons with the men's volleyball program as a student-athlete between 2008 and 2012, progressing from a redshirt freshman in his first season to one of the Patriots' leaders in attack four years later. Norton accumulated 362 kills for Mason in 253 sets played across 82 matches as a Patriot and will be remembered with his thunderbolt serves, which allowed him to accumulate 41 aces in his intercollegiate career. Now he will help coach the team that had 147 aces last season – second-most in the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association – and the 2015 EIVA leader in aces, redshirt senior Paco Velez (50).
Off the court, Norton was an active member of Mason's Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) for four years and was one of the 25 council members to represent the university at the 2010 NCAA National Leadership Conference.
“It is extremely fulfilling to be able to give back to the team and culture that I was a part of and because of which I grew so much,” Norton said. “It is an honor to coach some of the guys I've been able to play with, along with newer faces.”
Immediately after obtaining his undergraduate degree in Sport Management in May 2012, Norton began working as a strength and conditioning specialist at a local strength and conditioning facility while continuing his education. In September 2014, once he received his graduate degree in International Sport Management, Mason's former No. 5 returned to volleyball as the head coach of a U17 formation of Northern Virginia Volleyball Association. Soon after, the Eden, N.Y. native assumed the role of strength coordinator in the organization, helping athletes across all NVVA age groups prepare for competition and properly recover afterwards.
Now back with his alma mater, Norton is optimistic about the upcoming season, which will begin on Jan. 5 against UCLA at RAC Gym, the source of countless volleyball memories for him.
“We have a full squad ready to roll,” he said. “Everyone is dialed in and understands our objectives.”
To witness Norton's first experience in his new role at Mason Volleyball, click here to buy tickets to the UCLA match.
