Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

Dec. 7, 2022 - North Central College athletic director Jim Miller '86 has announced the promotion of Sydney Cheatham-Carlone to head women's volleyball coach after serving as an assistant coach for both the men's and women's programs since 2019.

"Sydney has benefited from working with some excellent coaches through her years as an assistant coach," said Miller. "Sydney's ability to relate to the student-athletes, alumni, colleagues, parents and potential recruits is a tremendous strength of hers. We are very confident in her abilities to lead our women's volleyball program and look forward to continued success for the women."

The Naperville native served as interim head coach for both men's and women's programs for part of the 2021 season while head coach Kyle Exline was on paternity leave. In April of 2021, Cheatham Carlone was named the NCAA Division III Men's Volleyball National Assistant Coach of the Year by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), the first female to earn the award.

"It's a blessing to continue representing my hometown team as the new head women's volleyball coach," Cheatham-Carlone said. "Each chapter of my coaching career has taught me to lean on my faith… God has a plan for all of us.  I've learned that when you love others and love what you do, you tap into the most powerful force in life: your purpose."

Transitioning from both the men's and women's volleyball head coach role to solely the men's volleyball head coach, Exline will now be able to focus his time to better serve the men's volleyball program.

"This is a personal decision for me, and I find peace in knowing Coach Sydney is eager to take over the women's program," Exline said. "Over the four years we have been together, Sydney has shown tremendous growth as a coach and brought immense value to both our programs, department, and campus community. Both programs will benefit from more devotion during both seasons (traditional and non-traditional) and recruitment. This will ensure that both programs can continue to compete at an elite and championship level."

"The women's volleyball team will benefit by having Coach Cheatham-Carlone dedicated to coaching the women's program during the fall and spring non-traditional practice season, leading the recruiting efforts, and establishing strength and conditioning programs that serve the women to their fullest. This scenario will play out the same for Coach Exline and the men's volleyball team," Miller said.

Cheatham-Carlone began at North Central prior to the 2018-19 academic year as a graduate assistant for the women's volleyball program and was elevated to assistant coach for both the men's and women's programs the following year.

"I owe a sincere thank you to Coach Kyle Exline. He is a mentor, friend, and my sidekick since I began at North Central. I look forward to supporting one another as we navigate through this new journey," said Cheatham-Carlone.

Prior to her time with the Cardinals', Cheatham-Carlone played volleyball for NCAA Division I Western Michigan University where she was a two-time Academic All-Mid-American Conference award recipient. In 2014 the Broncos won the MAC Tournament and earned the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Cheatham Carlone received the Gal Werme Community Service award, as well as the WMU Champion and Coach's awards during her time at Western Michigan. She graduated from Western Michigan in the spring of 2018 with a bachelor's degree in psychology and graduated from North Central with a master's degree in leadership studies in the spring of 2020.

"I want to recognize Jessica Brown, Jim Miller, and the rest of the athletic administration staff for believing in the shared vision we have for North Central women's volleyball,'' Cheatham-Carlone said.

"To my husband Dan, my parents, my four siblings, my extended family, and all my former teammates and coaches who helped develop me into the woman l have become, thank you. The abundance of prayers, encouragement, and love have been instrumental towards my goals," said Cheatham-Carlone. "I want to be a disciple to the women like so many have been to me in the past."

The North Central women's volleyball team recently wrapped up their 2022 season with a 14-11 overall record, a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin fourth-place finish, and hosted a CCIW Tournament match for the first time since 2012.

"Our mission is to create an environment for our student-athletes to grow and thrive in,'' said Cheatham-Carlone. "To love and care about them, while challenging them. It's all about being a part of something bigger than yourself, a F.A.M.I.L.Y. - Forget About Me, I Love You."

The 2023 women's volleyball season is set to begin the first week of September. 

Download the free North Central Cardinals app, available for iOS and Android devices, to receive up-to-the-minute news, scores and updates on your favorite North Central teams. Click HERE for more information.