Nikki Hackenberg

Coach

Donna Roman

Coach, 12-Denim

Coach Donna Roman brings extensive experience coaching club, high school and college volleyball after spending four years as a Division 1 player. In 2015, she became co-director of ECP Lehigh, where she also serves as a head coach. Prior to joining ECP, she coached Synergy 13 Lehigh. Prior to that she was the assistant boys coach at Bethlehem’s Freedom High School from 2001-2007. She also was head girls coach at Linganore High School in Maryland and at Cape Henry Collegiate High School in Virginia Beach. She also was head boys coach at Salem High School in Virginia Beach, where she was named 1997 Boys Coach of the Year. At the college level she was an assistant coach at Lafayette College and Lehigh University and head coach of the Lehigh men’s club team. She has also coached club teams at Quick Set and Maryland Juniors Volleyball. Coach Roman is a graduate of Lehigh University, where she was a four-year starting outside hitter and a two-time All-Patriot League player, and she still plays recreational volleyball in both Allentown and Catasauqua. She is an Advanced Placement teacher and Social Studies Department Chair at Freedom High School.

Coaching Philosophy: I believe that effort generates outcome. Driving players consistently to learn and improve leads to success. Hard work with clear goals will benefit players on and off the court.

Best Volleyball Moment: My best volleyball moment was a hard-fought victory in a five game battle against a much bigger and heavily favored Army team in the Patriot League tournament.

My Life in Sports: I started playing volleyball in 5th grade in the church parking lot with poles cemented into old tires. How’s that for old school? Standing at a solid 5’7” tall, I played as a middle hitter for Bethlehem Catholic High School, finishing third in the state of Pennsylvania in my senior season. I played club volleyball for the first ever Lehigh Valley volleyball club- Bethlehem Juniors, who later became Quick Set. I was an outside hitter for Lehigh University from 1988-1991, earning All-Patriot League honors in both my junior and senior seasons.

When I’m Not Coaching Volleyball: I spend a lot of time cheering on my daughters, Julia and Alaina, playing softball.

Favorite subject in school: Math (even though I am a history teacher now)

Last Book I Read: “Inferno” by Dan Brown

Favorite Movie: Any of the Harry Potter movies

Favorite Quote: “The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.” –Vince Lombardi

Person I’d Like to Have Dinner With: Teddy Roosevelt, his combination of intellect, toughness, and compassion would make for interesting conversation.

Something You Probably Don’t Know About Me: I love Duck, North Carolina, and I go there whenever I can get away. It’s my happy place!