North Park University Athletics

Natalie (Emro) Dietz completed her fourth season as the head women's volleyball coach in 2018. The Vikings continue to rise in the CCIW ranks finishing a program best, 5th place, in 2017. During her three seasons, the Vikings have seen improvement in nearly every statistical category.

Dietz guided the Vikings to an overall 16-14 (0.533) record in 2017 and a 3-5 (0.375) conference finish in CCIW action. Prior to Dietz taking over the program in 2014, The Vikings record from 2012-2014 was a combined (0.346) with a conference record of 1-20 (0.108). In three years, Dietz has accounted for nearly a quarter of the Vikings conferences wins while leading the program for just 3 of 32 seasons. 

The development of the program has surged since Coach Dietz took over. In the 2014 season, the year before Dietz became the head coach, North Park averaged just 7.8 assists per set, 8.8 kills per set and 0.9 blocks per set. Now after three seasons, the Vikings increased their averages to 10.8 assists per set, 11.5 kills per set and 1.4 blocks per set. The Vikings also were second in the CCIW in aces per set with 1.92 in 2017. For the first time in school history, North Park has two players receive All-CCIW honors (Lauren Wiltsie, 1st team All-CCIW; Kajsa Meyer, 2nd team All-CCIW). Dietz has had at least one player earn an All-CCIW honor since her arrival. 

Dietz comes from East Lansing, Michigan where she completed a successful four-year career as a student-athlete for the Michigan State Spartans volleyball program. As a student-athlete for the Spartans, Dietz competed in 127 matches over four years and finished ranked fourth in all-time assists and total sets played. She also helped lead the Spartans to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances in 2009 and 2011 and recorded 30 assists in a 3-1 NCAA tournament victory over Arizona Dec. 2, 2011. She finished her senior year ranked second in single season total assists with 587 and 94 blocks. In addition to her collegiate career, Dietz also played professionally for Nova KBM Branik in Maribor, Slovenia, and was a key part in leading Nova KBM Branik to the MEVZA pro volleyball league championship. Dietz currently resides in Chicago, with her husband, Michael, and dog, Ollie.