Georgia Tech has hired Michelle Collier as its new volleyball coach after a two-year run at Jacksonville. Collier replaces Tonya Johnson, who left Tech in February to become associate head coach at Texas.
Last fall, Collier led Jacksonville to a 30-4 record and its first NCAA tournament appearance since 2004. She was named Atlantic Sun Conference coach of the year. Prior to her stop at Jacksonville, her first head coaching job, Collier was an assistant coach at South Carolina and South Florida, both for two years. She played collegiately at South Florida before a four-year professional career.
“We’re excited to welcome Michelle Collier to Georgia Tech as our new head volleyball coach,” athletic director Bobinski said in a statement. “Michelle has experienced significant success as both a coach and player and brings an exceptional understanding of high level volleyball along with an appreciation for Georgia Tech. While we were fortunate to have an outstanding group of candidates, it was clear that Michelle was the ideal choice to lead our program to success in the years ahead.”
Jacksonville had three consecutive sub-.500 seasons (including one in Collier’s first season) prior to its breakout season last fall. The Dolphins were 16-2 in the Atlantic Sun and won its conference tournament.
Johnson resigned after five seasons at Tech, during which the Yellow Jackets were 85-72.
Collier is fluent in Spanish and Portugese and is married to a former professional volleyball player from Brazil. Perhaps not coincidentally, the Jacksonville roster includes two players from Puerto Rico, where she played professionally, and one from Brazil.
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