Lee University's Andrea Hudson reached a volleyball coaching milestone on Friday, Nov. 18 when she directed the Lady Flames to her 500th college coaching victory.
The Lady Flames defeated Faulkner University 30-20, 30-23, 30-23 in the opening round of the NAIA Region XIII Tournament being played in Lee's Paul Dana Walker Arena. Lee followed with wins over Spring Hill and Berry colleges, and then whipped Spring Hill again to earn the Region XIII crown. Hudson will take 503 wins into Lee’s third straight NAIA National Volleyball Championship.
Hudson's 500th win came in the midst of her 15th season of college coaching. All 500 victories have came while directing the highly successful Lee program. Teaming with her husband, Kevin Hudson, the head coach has averaged over 33 wins a year since taking over the Lee program in 1991. Four of her clubs have won at least 40 games in a season.
The accolades continue for the woman who grew up in Cleveland and is a graduate of Lee. She is currently trying to take her third straight team to the NAIA National Volleyball Championships. Already, her Lady Flames have captured 12 conference titles and are seeking their fifth region crown.
Coach Hudson expressed her feelings about 500 wins: “When I first realized it might happen, I strolled around the gym (Walker Arena) with no one there but me and tried to remember my first match at Lee as a college coach. I recalled how frightened I was as well as inadequate. I knew that (Lee President) Dr. (Paul) Conn and (Athletic Director) Randy Steele had taken a big risk hiring me, but I know now it was exactly what God had planned for me. I really only had 19 wins, and then Kevin (her husband and assistant coach) came along. All of the others wins belong to both of us. It also represents so many wonderful young ladies I have had the privilege to coach and watch their refusal to lose over the last 15 years. Lastly it just shows I am getting old!!”
