University of Georgia Athletics
Georgia Volleyball Hires Assistant Coach, Program Specialist
March 02, 2007 | Volleyball
ATHENS, Ga. --- Georgia volleyball head coach Joel McCartney announced the hiring of Assistant Coach Kevin Campbell and Program Specialist Mary Hock on Friday.
McCartney is preparing for his first season with the Bulldogs after coaching at Winthrop University (Rock Hill, S.C.) for six seasons, five of which saw the Eagles advance to the NCAA Tournament. After already hiring Deitre Collins-Parker as the team's Head Assistant Coach in January, McCartney is excited about the newest pair of additions.
"Kevin brings a great deal of maturity and experience to our program, especially in the area of recruiting," said McCartney. "She has been evaluating the top-tier athletes throughout the country for past two years and has a great feel for the type of player that will complement the athletes we have in our program."
McCartney is also encouraged about the addition of Hock, who was a player and assistant coach under him at Winthrop.
"It was an extremely easy decision to bring Mary down to Georgia as our Program Specialist," said McCartney, who coached Hock from 2002-05 at Winthrop University. "Although the implicit trust and deep sense of loyalty we share was the underlying factor for her hire, additionally she also brings a very competent and efficient approach to the position."
Campbell arrives in Athens after serving as an assistant coach at Penn State for the last two seasons. In 2006, the Nittany Lions, who are the four-time defending Big Ten champions, advanced to the Elite Eight at the NCAA Tournament and finished with a 32-3 mark. Campbell and the rest of Penn State's coaching staff led three players to AVCA All-American honors and a No. 5 ranking.
"I am very honored for the opportunity to work at such a prestigious athletic institution as the University of Georgia and with such great people in Coach McCartney, Deitre Collins-Parker and Mary Hock," said Campbell. "I believe in Coach McCartney's vision for Georgia volleyball and under his leadership there is no doubt this program will be in a place it deserves to be in a very short time."
Another coaching stop for Campbell was at UNC-Charlotte, where she was the 49ers recruiting coordinator and helped out with numerous other duties for five seasons as an assistant coach. Campbell also was an assistant coach at Ohio University from 1999 to 2000 and served as an assistant coach and assistant compliance officer at Winthrop University from 1998-1999.
In addition, Campbell has assisted at the USA Volleyball High Performance tryouts and was the Conference USA representative for the AVCA Assistant Coaches Committee for four years.
Campbell's played her collegiate volleyball at the University of Nebraska at Omaha from 1991-95. Earning a spot in the NCAA Division II record books after recording 39 digs in a four-game match, Campbell was named to the All-North Central Conference team and was a member of the AVCA North Central All-Regional squad.
In the classroom, Campbell graduated Cum Laude from Nebraska-Omaha with a bachelor's degree in History in 1995 and attended the Nebraska School of Law from 1995-96.
"Kevin is a very honest and hard working coach and adds a tremendous amount of energy to our development," McCartney said. "She gets the very most out of a day in the office, out on the recruiting road or on the court and I believe we have struck gold in adding her to our staff. I couldn't be more pleased to bring Kevin into our family as the final piece to the puzzle in assembling a first-class staff for our program."
Program Specialist Mary Hock | McCartney also announced the hiring of Hock, whom he brought with him from Winthrop as Program Specialist. Hock, a native of Garland, Texas, was an assistant under McCartney for one season after suiting up for the Eagles for four years. Earning the program's first All-American honors, Hock finished her playing career at Winthrop as the program's all-time leader in kills, attacks, points, service aces and games played. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Fitness Wellness with a minor in nutrition in December 2006. |
| "Coach McCartney giving me an opportunity to come along and help get Georgia to a better place is an amazing opportunity. I am very excited to have the chance to be a part of the University of Georgia Athletic Association and the rich sports history here. | |
In addition, Hock led the nation in 2005 with 1.07 aces per game, she became Winthrop's third Big South Player of the Year in 2004 and helped lead the Eagles to five straight NCAA Tournaments as a player and an assistant coach. McCartney is confident Hock's new dedication to Georgia volleyball will be a benefit to the program.
"Mary was an outstanding athlete for me at Winthrop and even more dedicated to the program as an assistant coach following her collegiate career," said McCartney, who captured five Big South Conference championships with Hock's help at Winthrop. "She is one of the hardest working individuals I have ever employed and I couldn't be more pleased of her decision to come help us build the Bulldog program up to the level it deserves."
The Bulldogs begin their 2007 season at the Georgia Southern Tournament in Statesboro, Ga., on Aug. 24-25 and will play their first home match on Sept.
4 against University of South Carolina-Upstate.
