Georgia Volleyball Adds Assistant

ATHENS, Ga. --- Sam Ojie (pronounced O-jay) has been named an assistant volleyball coach for the University of Georgia according to head coach Steffi Legall. He succeeds Nicole McCray, who recently accepted a head coaching position with Georgia Southern University.

Ojie, who comes to Athens after being an assistant coach at the University of Central Florida, played seven years of professional volleyball in Africa and Europe and has also coached at Tulane University. According to Legall, Ojie is expected to be a key addition to the Bulldog staff.

"I am extremely happy for Sam to join our staff," Legall said. "He is an excellent teacher of volleyball and he separates himself because of his love and passion for the game as well as his players."

While coaching at Tulane for five seasons, Ojie led the Green Wave hitters to All-Conference USA honors four times and the team's 226 service aces in 2002 were the most during any 10-year period for Tulane. During his time playing professionally, Ojie suited up for Mizuno Mallory in London from 1994-96 and his team did not lose a match for two years. Ojie's professional career began for the Ivory Coast Abidjan University Club in Africa in 1992 when the local media recognized him as the team's most outstanding player.

"His wealth of experience playing professionally and coaching at several schools at the collegiate level make him one of the best evaluators of talent around," Legall said. "I am pleased this outstanding candidate for the job is joining us."

Ojie is a native of Nigeria and graduated from the Command Second School in 1985. He then attended The University of Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria, and completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in media arts and then his Associates in Applied Business at Tulane University. Ojie said he is ready to help leads the Bulldogs in the fall.
   

"What led me to Georgia was that this is a great program with a strong volleyball tradition," Ojie said. "I have known Steffi for a while and I believe that we can get Georgia back to being the powerhouse that it was. My goal here is to figure out how to bring more 'program-changers' to build our program up. As far as coaching goes, I love to coach fundamentals and I think that is huge for kids to see."

Ojie's official first day was April 1st and he is already enjoying his brief time as a Bulldog. "In two or three days here, the response from the staff to my arrival has been great and I can already see how much of a family atmosphere the University of Georgia is and I love that," Ojie said.

Georgia's volleyball team opens its fall season on Aug. 25-26 as the Bulldogs host the Georgia Invitational.

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