Willis Fills Out Volleyball Coaching Staff
2/1/2019 3:17:00 PM | Volleyball
Taylor Sherwin and Efrain Negron will serve as assistant coaches.
STATESBORO – Georgia Southern volleyball coach Chad Willis announced today that he has added Taylor Sherwin and Efrain Negron to his coaching staff.
Sherwin comes to Statesboro after spending the last three seasons as an assistant at Appalachian State, while Negron coached at Clemson for the last two seasons.
"I am thrilled to announce Taylor and Efrain as the newest additions to our Georgia Southern family," said Willis. "It was important to me throughout this process to find people I know and trust who will invest themselves in the vision of our program and be transformational in the lives of our student-athletes. Our staff is passionate, committed and energized to start bringing championships back to Georgia Southern volleyball and Eagle Nation."
At Appalachian, Sherwin was primarily in charge of training the setters and assisting in coordinating the Mountaineer offense. The Mountaineers went 22-9 and 13-3 in the Sun Belt in 2018, won the SBC East Division, advanced to the league tournament championship contest and made an appearance in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship. Setter Becky Porter was named the Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year and first-team All-Sun Belt.
"Over the last three years, I've developed a profound respect for Taylor as a coach but more importantly as a person," said Willis. "She is a tireless worker, organized, loyal and dedicated to positively impacting everyone around her. Taylor's playing and coaching experience at the highest level will be an incredible asset for our student-athletes, and I couldn't be more excited to have her with us."
Sherwin also played a pivotal role in recruiting and helped Appalachian State land a 2017 class that was tabbed by PrepVolleyball as highest honorable mention for the nation's top recruiting class.
Before her time at Appalachian, she spent the 2015 season as a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Minnesota. The Golden Gophers finished the 2015 campaign with a 30-5 overall record, including a nearly-perfect 18-2 mark in Big Ten Conference play. Minnesota made it all the way to the national semifinal where they dropped a four-set match to the eventual runner-up Texas Longhorns.
Sherwin was a three-time captain and most valuable player during a four-year playing career at Ohio State. The setter was a 2014 American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America honorable mention after a Sweet 16 NCAA run. As an All-Big Ten honorable mention, Sherwin averaged 10.96 assists per set in conference play, which ranked fourth in the Big Ten. She was selected as the Big Ten Setter of the Week twice in 2014 and four times in her career, and her 3,624 career assists rank fifth all-time at Ohio State. Sherwin graduated in 2015 with a degree in speech and hearing communications.
"I could not be more excited to join the Georgia Southern staff," said Sherwin. "During my time at App State, I got to know Chad, his knowledge and passion for the game, and overall work ethic. I want to thank Georgia Southern University and especially Chad for this awesome opportunity. I know we'll do some special things in Statesboro, and I can't wait to get started."
At Clemson, Negron served as the defensive coordinator and helped the Tigers engineer a 12-win improvement from 2017 to 2018. Clemson won eight of its last 11 matches to post a 19-15 record last season, its most wins since 2012. In 2017, Negron mentored freshman libero Madi Howell, who tallied 373 digs, the second most by a freshman in school history.
Negron served as a volunteer assistant coach on the 2015 Appalachian State staff with Willis and helped the Mountaineers to a 22-8 record (13-3 Sun Belt) and a runner-up finish at the Sun Belt Championship tournament in Hanner Fieldhouse. Negron trained the Appalachian State liberos and defensive specialists, and was responsible for team defense and serve receive. The Mountaineers led the conference in digs per set that season, with a 16.58 average.
"I've known E for about four years now, and I think he's one of the most passionate young coaches I've come across," said Willis. "His energy and commitment to the game are contagious, and our student-athletes will absolutely love learning alongside him. E is familiar with our philosophy, aligned with our vision and his playing and coaching experience will add tremendous value to our program moving forward."
Following his time at Appalachian, Negron assisted in all aspects of the program, including recruiting, practice planning and game preparation, at Bowling Green in 2016. He was responsible for the individual development and training of the team's liberos and defensive specialists, as well as team defense and serve receive. The Falcons led the MAC in digs per set in 2016, with a 17.67 average, which ranked ninth in the nation. He coached Madeline Garda, the national leader in digs per set (6.66) to MAC Defensive Player of the Year and first-team all-conference honors.
Negron was a four-year starter at libero for Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, N.C., from 2010-13, where he was a three-time All-Conference Carolinas selection. He set the Lees-McRae school record in digs, digs per set and reception percentage and sits in the top-5 statistically in the NCAA for career digs. He represented USA Men's Volleyball as a libero at the Asian Pacific Volleyball Cup in Japan during the summer of 2012. Negron graduated from Lees-McRae with a degree in Sports Science in May of 2014.
"It's humbling and a blessing to join Chad, Taylor and the Georgia Southern volleyball staff," said Negron. "I have always admired Chad as a coach and a mentor since my year on the App State staff. His positive leadership, ability to serve others and volleyball knowledge make him one of the best in the business. I want to thank Chad, and Georgia Southern Athletics for this wonderful opportunity. I look forward to making an immediate impact and helping him achieve his vision for Georgia Southern Volleyball!"
Georgia Southern is set to return 13 letterwinners and four starters to the 2019 team.
Sherwin comes to Statesboro after spending the last three seasons as an assistant at Appalachian State, while Negron coached at Clemson for the last two seasons.
"I am thrilled to announce Taylor and Efrain as the newest additions to our Georgia Southern family," said Willis. "It was important to me throughout this process to find people I know and trust who will invest themselves in the vision of our program and be transformational in the lives of our student-athletes. Our staff is passionate, committed and energized to start bringing championships back to Georgia Southern volleyball and Eagle Nation."
At Appalachian, Sherwin was primarily in charge of training the setters and assisting in coordinating the Mountaineer offense. The Mountaineers went 22-9 and 13-3 in the Sun Belt in 2018, won the SBC East Division, advanced to the league tournament championship contest and made an appearance in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship. Setter Becky Porter was named the Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year and first-team All-Sun Belt.
"Over the last three years, I've developed a profound respect for Taylor as a coach but more importantly as a person," said Willis. "She is a tireless worker, organized, loyal and dedicated to positively impacting everyone around her. Taylor's playing and coaching experience at the highest level will be an incredible asset for our student-athletes, and I couldn't be more excited to have her with us."
Sherwin also played a pivotal role in recruiting and helped Appalachian State land a 2017 class that was tabbed by PrepVolleyball as highest honorable mention for the nation's top recruiting class.
Before her time at Appalachian, she spent the 2015 season as a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Minnesota. The Golden Gophers finished the 2015 campaign with a 30-5 overall record, including a nearly-perfect 18-2 mark in Big Ten Conference play. Minnesota made it all the way to the national semifinal where they dropped a four-set match to the eventual runner-up Texas Longhorns.
Sherwin was a three-time captain and most valuable player during a four-year playing career at Ohio State. The setter was a 2014 American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America honorable mention after a Sweet 16 NCAA run. As an All-Big Ten honorable mention, Sherwin averaged 10.96 assists per set in conference play, which ranked fourth in the Big Ten. She was selected as the Big Ten Setter of the Week twice in 2014 and four times in her career, and her 3,624 career assists rank fifth all-time at Ohio State. Sherwin graduated in 2015 with a degree in speech and hearing communications.
"I could not be more excited to join the Georgia Southern staff," said Sherwin. "During my time at App State, I got to know Chad, his knowledge and passion for the game, and overall work ethic. I want to thank Georgia Southern University and especially Chad for this awesome opportunity. I know we'll do some special things in Statesboro, and I can't wait to get started."
At Clemson, Negron served as the defensive coordinator and helped the Tigers engineer a 12-win improvement from 2017 to 2018. Clemson won eight of its last 11 matches to post a 19-15 record last season, its most wins since 2012. In 2017, Negron mentored freshman libero Madi Howell, who tallied 373 digs, the second most by a freshman in school history.
Negron served as a volunteer assistant coach on the 2015 Appalachian State staff with Willis and helped the Mountaineers to a 22-8 record (13-3 Sun Belt) and a runner-up finish at the Sun Belt Championship tournament in Hanner Fieldhouse. Negron trained the Appalachian State liberos and defensive specialists, and was responsible for team defense and serve receive. The Mountaineers led the conference in digs per set that season, with a 16.58 average.
"I've known E for about four years now, and I think he's one of the most passionate young coaches I've come across," said Willis. "His energy and commitment to the game are contagious, and our student-athletes will absolutely love learning alongside him. E is familiar with our philosophy, aligned with our vision and his playing and coaching experience will add tremendous value to our program moving forward."
Following his time at Appalachian, Negron assisted in all aspects of the program, including recruiting, practice planning and game preparation, at Bowling Green in 2016. He was responsible for the individual development and training of the team's liberos and defensive specialists, as well as team defense and serve receive. The Falcons led the MAC in digs per set in 2016, with a 17.67 average, which ranked ninth in the nation. He coached Madeline Garda, the national leader in digs per set (6.66) to MAC Defensive Player of the Year and first-team all-conference honors.
Negron was a four-year starter at libero for Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, N.C., from 2010-13, where he was a three-time All-Conference Carolinas selection. He set the Lees-McRae school record in digs, digs per set and reception percentage and sits in the top-5 statistically in the NCAA for career digs. He represented USA Men's Volleyball as a libero at the Asian Pacific Volleyball Cup in Japan during the summer of 2012. Negron graduated from Lees-McRae with a degree in Sports Science in May of 2014.
"It's humbling and a blessing to join Chad, Taylor and the Georgia Southern volleyball staff," said Negron. "I have always admired Chad as a coach and a mentor since my year on the App State staff. His positive leadership, ability to serve others and volleyball knowledge make him one of the best in the business. I want to thank Chad, and Georgia Southern Athletics for this wonderful opportunity. I look forward to making an immediate impact and helping him achieve his vision for Georgia Southern Volleyball!"
Georgia Southern is set to return 13 letterwinners and four starters to the 2019 team.
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