Follow
The interim tag is being removed from Caitlin Bullock’s title.
Lees-McRae announced Thursday that Bullock was hired to be the permanent head coach of its men’s volleyball program.
Bullock, who will continue to serve as the head coach of the Lees-McRae women’s volleyball team, took over the men’s volleyball program midway through the 2020 season after the school parted ways with head coach Henry Chuang. The Bobcats at the time of the coaching change were 0-8 and on a 16-match losing streak dating back to 2019.
Lees-McRae under Bullock went 3-4 before the season was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. Among the victories included an upset sweep against Limestone that snapped Lees-McRae’s 21-match conference losing streak.
“In the time we had to watch coach Bullock handle the men’s program, it was evident there was a positive trajectory in which we were headed,” athletics director Craig McPhail said in a statement. “I’m excited to give her this chance and watch her continue to elevate the program similarly to how she has done so with our women’s volleyball team.”
This will be the second ConfCarolinas men’s volleyball team that Bullock has coached during her career.
Bullock spent three seasons as an assistant coach at King and helped guide the Tornado to the 2018 ConfCarolinas championship and a NCAA Tournament appearance. She left King following that season to become the head coach of the Lees-McRae women’s volleyball team.
As a player in the ConfCarolinas, Bullock was a three-time all-conference selection at Erskine and set the school record for career kills.
Bullock will be one of five female head coaches for NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball teams during the 2021 season.
Lees-McRae is slated to return all but one player for the upcoming season. Among the returning starters includes libero Steven Nalls who was fifth in the ConfCarolinas last season with a 2.25 digs per game average.
“After a few weeks of working with this team, I knew I could see such a bright future in these young men,” Bullock said in a statement. “They are eager to learn, compete and be the best they can be.”