Sports

Shaw Volleyball Announces Paulk as New Head Coach

Lawrence Davis III @LawDavis13 @SpecMagSports

RALEIGH, N.C. – Director of Athletics, Dr. Alfonza L. Carter has announced the hiring of Jonathan Paulk as Shaw University’s next head women’s volleyball coach.

“We are pleased the search process landed us with a candidate such as Coach Paulk, with an experienced coaching background and a powerful passion for improving volleyball skills and individual student-athlete growth. I expect Coach Paulk to continue the success and upward direction the program has been in for the last four years,” said Dr. Carter.

Paulk arrives to Shaw following a one-year stint at Louisburg College where he inherited a team that was predicted to finish last in the Region 10 (Division II) but placed fourth overall with a 14-12 record and 8-4 mark in the league action.

“I am honored to be named the new head volleyball coach at Shaw University; I could not be more excited for this opportunity to join Dr. Carter’s team and the Shaw community,” added Paulk.

Prior to Louisburg, Paulk served as an assistant coach at North Carolina Central for two years where the Lady Eagles qualified for the Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference (MEAC) tournament in back-to-back seasons. In his role at NCCU, Paulk worked with the outside hitters, prepared scouting reports, and arranged film exchange.

Along with his collegiate coaching, Paulk co-founded Carolina Edge Volleyball in 2017 after having coached the top 15s, 16s, and 18s teams at North Carolina Volleyball Academy the prior three years. He was also the coach for the North Carolina State men’s club volleyball team in 2018, helping them to the gold bracket and a 9th place finish at the NCVF National Tournament.

Paulk’s playing career started at NC State where he became president of the men’s club volleyball team in 2014. He led the team to a 5th and 9th place finish at Nationals while garnering an All-Tournament award as a setter and Team MVP in 2015. Paulk led the team as an outside hitter in 2016.

In addition to his indoor volleyball experience, Paulk trained athletes and competed in beach volleyball events. He won the NCSVA Collegiate Beach Volleyball National Championship in Hermosa, California in 2016. While in California, Paulk also won a Huntington Beach adult tournament and earned his CBVA AA rating.

Paulk will inherit an outstanding program and one of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association’s (CIAA) top volleyball squads; the Lady Bears who are coming off a 2018 championship – its second in four seasons, a 23-9 overall record and 17-2 mark in the CIAA, third consecutive Southern Division title and second appearance in the NCAA tournament.

The Lady Bears are set to begin its 2019 campaign during the Volleyball Shark Invitational hosted by Nova Southeastern in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Sept. 6 and Sept. 7.