Moments after the Russellville City Board of Education approved his hiring Wednesday morning, new Russellville High School varsity volleyball coach Will White was asked how he'll promote volleyball in Russellville.
His answer? Start with the sport itself.
“Once kids start playing volleyball they fall in love with it and often end up being in it for life,” White said. “Volleyball is the number one indoor sport in America for girls in high school and college (according to a study done by usavolleyball.org). That's something people don't realize.
“As far as what I'll do, it's just building the culture. Love the kids, show them the way through volleyball to help them deal with things they want to succeed in in their lives,” White added.
White follows former RHS varsity coach Anna Lisa Jackson, who resigned from the position last month. White will teach intervention at RHS.
White comes to Russellville from Big 12 volleyball power Baylor University, where he served as Technical Coordinator. His duties included statistics and preparing scouting reports for the Bears.
He has served as head volleyball coach of Ohio Valley University in 2020, and has been an assistant coach at the University of North Alabama and Blue Mountain College in Mississippi. He also served as Director of Player Development at SWAT Volleyball Club for five years, where he trained coaches and players in the processes of the club.
White earned his Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts from Blue Mountain College last year.
White and his wife Lanice have two children, Michael and Zella. They live in Marion County, where Lanice is from, on a farm south of Hamilton. White said they will establish a residence in Russellville as well once he is situated into his new position.
Russellville City Schools Athletic Director John Ritter said he was impressed with White's coaching experience and what he brings to the Golden Tiger program.
“Coach White has an extensive background in volleyball and brings a high level of experience to our program,” Ritter said. “He has been part of volleyball at the highest level and brings a vast knowledge of the game to Russellville. I'm proud we could bring in a very knowledgeable, former college coach to work with our girls.”
White said a successful high school program begins at the Park and Recreation level, where a 'culture of success' can be build from the start.
“We plan to have that uniformity from the Park and Rec through middle school and into our varsity program, to build something here that will last not only the next couple years but will become the foundation of a long standing tradition,” White said.
“Volleyball in Russellville has a positive history. I remember coaching against Russellville kids and having some Russellville players in my club program. It's a great volleyball town, from what I remember. It just needs a fire lit under it, and that's what I plan to do,” he added.
White will meet with players and coaches this week before getting started on spring strength and conditioning work.
The new Golden Tiger coach lives and breathes volleyball—it's not just a side sport to him.
“It's been amazing to see so many lives impacted and changed in my 15 years of coaching just through a simple sport. To watch the growth in confidence and maturity of our players develop through volleyball—that's my goal—to give them the opportunity to be invested in something where they see their own worth grow,” White said.
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