China Jude Named New Women's Volleyball Head Coach

Washington, DC-- University of the District of Columbia Athletics Director Dr. Harold M. Merritt has announced the appointment of China Jude to the dual positions of assistant director of athletics/senior woman administrator and head women’s volleyball coach. She joined the UDC staff officially in May. Dr. Merritt says he is extremely pleased and fortunate to have someone of Jude’s caliber working with him as they assume the responsibility for revitalizing the UDC athletics program.

 China Jude comes to UDC from the University of West Florida where she served as assistant women’s volleyball coach.  During her tenure, the UWF team compiled a 23-7 record and a 9th place regional ranking, missing NCAA post season play by 1 placement position. Prior to WFU, Jude served as the assistant athletics director, senior woman administrator and head volleyball coach at Coppin State University.  She left Coppin as the director of compliance.

 Coach Jude has been actively involved in the communities in which she lived, coaching club volleyball teams in three states and winning several regional and divisional championships. Her athletic background also includes having earned a silver medal in the Maryland State Olympic Lifting Championships, and having played with the Baltimore Burn Women’s Professional Football Team. 

 Jude was an All-Southwestern Athletic Conference Player while attending Alabama State University where she started as an outside hitter on the women’s volleyball team. She was also a six-time All-Tournament Player and two-time team Best Defensive and Most Valuable Player at Alabama State.

 The Waukegan, Illinois native is a graduate of Alabama State University with a bachelor’s degree in communications media. She later earned a master’s degree in sports management from the United States Sports Academy in 1996. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in philosophy with an emphasis in business administration at the Kennedy –Western University. She is the mother of one son, Tommy Lee Oliver, Jr., who is a competitive youth wrestler and football player.