Volleyball | 8/14/2017 2:42:00 PM

STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern volleyball coach Dustin Wood announced today that Kelly Hogan has joined his staff as an assistant coach.

Hogan comes to Statesboro from UNC Asheville, where she spent the 2016 campaign. She was heavily involved in recruiting, operations and was responsible with passing and defensive development as well as pin hitter training. She will work primarily with the setters and defensive specialists at Georgia Southern.

"We are excited to have Kelly join our family at Georgia Southern," said Wood. "She has a great background in the game from the college ranks to connections with clubs around the country, which will help us to continue recruiting top-level kids here at Georgia Southern. Kelly will be very good working with our setters and their techniques, which will help them in match situations in working with our system and making in-game adjustments. We like what she can bring to our program from already having coaching and playing experience at the Division I level."

With a young team that featured seven freshmen and three sophomores in 2016, UNC Asheville went 12-16, reaching the Big South Conference Championships. Hogan also served as a master coach and head coach for the Xcel Volleyball Club in Hendersonville, N.C., during her time in Asheville.

Hogan began her coaching career working full-time with Sports Performance Volleyball Club in Aurora, Ill. She coached in College Prep, Scholastic Prep, Youth Academy and Volley Tots. Along with serving as a head coach, she also conducted and provided training during group and individual lessons. She expanded her reach and network by working as the master coach in SPVB camps in Oregon, Washington, Florida, Louisiana, North Carolina and Illinois for two camp seasons (2014-16). 

Hogan was a member of the University of Tennessee volleyball staff in 2015, helping guide the Volunteers to a 21-12 record in her one season with the program. As a volunteer assistant coach, Hogan's primary responsibilities included working with players on passing and defense. She also worked with the Data Volley and Data Video programs and assisted with video breakdown and scouting opposing teams.

A native of St. Charles, Ill., Hogan graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in health and human performance. She was a two-year captain as an outside hitter for UT Martin and was named to the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Commissioner's Honor Roll as well as to the school's Dean's List. Before her collegiate career with the Skyhawks, she played club ball for Sports Performance Volleyball Club for six years.

GS, which returns four of its seven starters and 14 letterwinners, will open the campaign at the Florida Gulf Coast Invitational Aug. 25. The Eagles host two tournaments - the Bash in the Boro Sept. 1-2 and the GATA Challenge Sept. 8-9.

Season tickets sales for Georgia Southern volleyball are currently underway, and one $40 season ticket covers general admission seating for all home matches. Parking is free.

Georgia Southern Athletics provides current information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com. Information on Eagle athletics can also be found through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics and Instagram.com/GSAthletics. To purchase tickets to Georgia Southern athletics events, visit GSEagles.com/tickets.

In order to expedite entry and provide a safe environment for all patrons and participants, Georgia Southern Athletics has implemented a Clear Bag Policy for all ticketed sporting events, effective Aug. 1, 2017. Fans can find the complete policy as well as an FAQ section at GSEagles.com/ClearBag.