Volleyball Team in Search for New Assistant Coach  

By: Kennedi Bell, Sports Writer

February 25, 2025

Women’s volleyball at Xavier University of Louisiana is searching for an assistant coach to complete its current coaching staff, which includes Athletic Director and Head Coach Pat Kendrick and Associate Head Coach Ryan Bowerman.

“We certainly want somebody with some experience who’s knowledgeable about the game and willing to learn,” Kendrick said. “Somebody who’s easy to get along with and good at working with players from all types of experiences around the world.”

Building and maintaining a culture of respect and success is a priority for Kendrick and the program. She said the team has made a deliberate effort to recruit international players, bringing diverse perspectives, cultures and talent to the roster.

Trust and communication are also key qualities the staff is seeking, Bowerman said.

“We want someone who we know we can trust,” Bowerman said. “One thing we talk about with coaches is what happens if a player comes to you with information the rest of the staff needs to know.”

Bowerman said coaches must understand the balance between confidentiality and transparency.

“Sometimes a player wants something kept confidential, but we can’t have one coach withholding information the rest of the staff needs,” he said. “Knowing when to involve the head coach and when it’s OK not to is important.”

The position became vacant after assistant coach Vivica Price-Spraggins departed in January 2025. Price-Spraggins, who was hired in July 2022, left to pursue a new position as a pre-licensed psychotherapist in Brooklyn, New York.

Finding the right fit can be a lengthy process. The assistant coach plays a significant role in team development and helping players maximize their strengths while working together effectively. The athletic department hopes to fill the position by early August, ahead of the start of the upcoming volleyball season.

“I would like our new assistant coach to be ambitious enough to push us but also understand what it’s like to be a student-athlete,” said Charity Metcalf, a junior setter. “Ultimately, someone who knows what they’re talking about and is genuine.”

Metcalf, a business management major from Greenville, South Carolina, said a new coach could help elevate the team.

“Sometimes fresh faces help us step outside our comfort zone and compete at the next level,” she said.

In addition to the coaching search, the program transitioned to the Red River Athletic Conference during the 2021–22 academic year to increase its level of competition. The team previously competed in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference from the 1981–82 season through 2020–21. Xavier is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Kendrick said temperament is also an important factor in the hiring process.

“We want somebody who’s played and coached at the college level,” Kendrick said. “If a coach gets frustrated easily, that frustration wears off on the team. The game can be frustrating for players, so we want someone who has patience.”