Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG — Virginia Tech women's basketball head coach Megan Duffy tabbed Sharnee Zoll-Norman as an assistant coach of the program Thursday. Zoll-Norman comes to Blacksburg after spending two seasons at State College on the Penn State staff. A veteran of the professional ranks, Zoll-Norman was drafted in the WNBA where she played for three seasons before continuing her pro career overseas.
"I am thrilled to welcome Sharnee and her family to Hokie Nation," Duffy said Thursday. "She is a rising star in our profession. Sharnee will bring an incredible amount of knowledge to our players from her time in the WNBA and overseas. She will be a great mentor for our student-athletes. Sharnee has an energy about herself that will shine on the court, on the recruiting trail and in the Blacksburg community."
Working with the Lady Lions' backcourt, Zoll-Norman helped Makenna Marisa, Leilani Kapinus and Shay Ciezki rack up several accolades. Marisa repeated as Academic All-American Third Team and All-Big Ten First Team selections, becoming the third Lady Lion to earn Academic All-America distinction for two or more seasons and 12th to repeat as a first team selection in the league.
Kapinus was named an All-Big Ten Defensive Team selection and the only B1G player to be selected to the Naismith Women's Defensive Player of the Year Watch List, Kapinus finished eighth in the nation in steals (97) and was one of two players in the nation to be averaging at least 10 points, five rebounds, three steals and one block per game.
Ciezki was just one of two freshmen in the nation to average at least 2.0 three's per game with a 40.0 or better three-point percentage and finished second on the team in scoring (11.8 points per game).
"I have always dreamed of being back in the ACC competing against the best of the best," Zoll-Norman said. "I am beyond grateful to Virginia Tech Athletics and to Coach Duffy for allowing that dream to come to fruition. Coach Duffy is a proven winner, phenomenal leader, and an amazing human. My family and I are excited for the opportunity to be a part of the winning tradition with Hokie Nation."
Before Penn State, Zoll-Norman spent three years as an assistant coach at Rhode Island. Over her three seasons, Rhode Island had eight All-Atlantic 10 selections, including three first team honorees.
She served on the Rams' staff after concluding a 14-year professional career, including three seasons in the WNBA.
Prior to Rhode Island, Zoll-Norman spent two seasons as an assistant with the Philadelphia Belles AAU program, helping the team with scouting reports, practice plans, player development and recruiting.
Zoll-Norman was the 29th overall pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks. She also spent time with the Minnesota Lynx.
She most recently played with InvestInTheWest AZS Gorzow in Poland. She led the team to a Top 16 finish in the EuroCup and second in the Polish League. She was the 2018 EuroCup Guard of the Year and was a five-time Eurobasket All-Polish First Team honoree. In 2017, she led the team to its first Polish League Championship in 30 years and was named both regular season and postseason MVP.
Zoll-Norman graduated from Virginia in 2008. As a Cavalier, Zoll-Norman was a 1,000-point scorer and started every game of her career. She's the only woman in ACC history to record at least 200 assists in three straight seasons and broke Virginia and ACC record with 785 assists, both previously held by Dawn Staley. She won a gold medal as a member of the Team USA U19 team in 2005.