When Penn State women's volleyball coach Russ Rose found out in June that his assistant coach Erin Appleman would be resigning to take care of her newborn son, he knew he wouldn't have much convincing to do to fill the position.

He knew he had a taker in Julie Miller, a former Nittany Lion who was an assistant at the University of Houston. Miller had been a part of the team from 1988-1992. She played the first year, but suffered a serious injury that kept her out the next three seasons. During that rehabilitation, she served as a student assistant coach. In 1992, she returned to the court and helped the Lions win the Big Ten Championship.

"I had always kept in touch with coach Rose," Miller said. "I consider him a friend and a mentor. I always told him I would come back if he ever needed a coach. This job would be the only reason I would ever come back to Pennsylvania."

The Pittsburgh native had been away from Pennsylvania since she served as an assistant coach on the boys' and girls' volleyball teams at her alma mater, North Allegheny H.S. That year, she helped lead the girls' team to a state title.

In 1995 she left the state for her first collegiate coaching job as an assistant at William & Mary. By the end of her tenure there, she had reached the title of co-head coach.

After the 1998 season Miller took the Houston job, where she was the team's recruiting coordinator, academic monitor and strength and conditioning coach. In practice she worked with the team's setters and defensive specialists.

At Penn State, Miller's duties will be mostly the same, though her skill instruction in practice will not focus on specific positions.

Rose is pleased with what Miller adds to the team.

"She has a really good knowledge of the game," he said. "She's a former player, and she has experience in the coaching field, so she has the chance to hit the ground running. She's still getting her feet wet, but she's definitely helped us out a lot so far. We're pleased to attract someone of her talents to be an assistant coach."

The Lion players have also gained an appreciation of her efforts.

"She's doing a great job," senior outside hitter Katie Schumacher said. "The team likes her a lot. She adds a lot to the program."

Rose and Miller are still in contact with Appleman, who is still living in State College.

"Even though Erin's moved on to a bigger job, being the mother of her new child, she's still around, so we can talk to her and get her views on what we're doing," Rose said.

Miller took the position at Penn State expecting it to be her dream job and she has yet to be disappointed.

"For me, this is the job of a lifetime," she said. "It's awesome. Every day, I love coming into work."