FSU volleyball hires Holly Watts as part of coaching staff for 2024 season
Holly Watts has been announced as Florida State volleyball's newest assistant coach. She will return to a program that she prominently coached from 2008-12.
"Holly and I coached together between 1996 and 2013 before she went off on another adventure as a head coach," FSU head coach Chris Poole said. "Holly is a tremendous coach and has always been a hard worker. I'm excited for her decision to come back to Florida State for another run.
"We will have one of the most experienced coaching staffs in the country with all three assistants being former Division I head coaches."
Watts' return highlights an incredible run she helped engineer with Poole. The Seminoles compiled a 130-34 record, reached the NCAA National Semifinals (2011) and Regional Finals (2009, 2011), won consecutive ACC Championship titles (2011 and 2012), and dominated the conference with an 80-20 record.
Watts was in charge of FSU's middle blockers and enjoyed a phenomenal run of All-America players, including Brianna Barry, Jordana Price, Ashley Neff, and Sareea Freeman.
The native of Devine, Texas, returns to the Seminoles after head coaching stints at UTEP and Western New Mexico. She began coaching with Poole during a successful 12-season run at Arkansas from 1996-07, helping the Lady Razorbacks record a 272-129 record, compiling nine SEC Western Division titles and winning the SEC Tournament in 1997.
Watts will return to coaching FSU's team blocking and middle- and right-side training. She will also serve as the team's Director of Volleyball Operations and will have a strong recruiting area of Texas and the Western United States – an area that she is very familiar with.
Watts will have the opportunity to coach one of the nation's top returning middle blockers in rising senior Khori Louis, who has spent much of her summer with USA Volleyball. Louis finished fourth in the nation with a .432 hitting percentage last year and earned All-America and All-ACC First Team honors.
Under Watts' tutelage, fellow middle blockers Kelsey Perry, Laila N'Diaye, Greta Gelumbickas and right-side hitter Maddie Snider will also be able to expand their games.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Holly Watts returns to FSU volleyball as part of coaching staff
