Monticello Live

Padraic McMeel, Director of Athletics, has announced the hiring of new head volleyball coach Jocelyn Garcia.

Coach Garcia has served as the Interim Head Volleyball Coach and is looking to invigorate the program at UAM.

“I want to thank Associate Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics, Padraic McMeel, and the search committee for affording me this incredible opportunity. I am honored and thankful to serve as the head volleyball coach for the University of Arkansas at Monticello.” Said Garcia. “I look forward to my new role in leading this amazing group of young women. It is my goal to instill a positive culture that fosters competitiveness, academic excellence, and community involvement, one of which the University of Arkansas at Monticello can derive pride.”

Garcia enters her second season with the Arkansas-Monticello Volleyball program after previously playing four years at Concordia University, Nebraska as a libero and defensive specialist. Jocelyn had the opportunity to serve as a tournament site director for Rocky Select Volleyball club in Colorado, where she was able to further her experience in operations and communication.

Garcia helped lead her team at Concordia in 2015 to a national ranking, a first ever conference final appearance, and a first ever national tournament appearance as well.

She went on to total 1,594 overall digs in her career along with earning numerous accolades including 2016 Honorable Mention All-GPAC, Four-Time 2016 GPAC Defensive Player of the Week, 2015 NAIA-AVCA West Central Region Libero of the Year, 2015 NAIA Honorable Mention All-America, and 2015 First Team All-GPAC.

Jocelyn received her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and is pursuing a master’s degree in physical education and coaching from Arkansas-Monticello.

“After conducting a national search for a new leader for our young women in our volleyball program, Jocelyn’s familiarity and enthusiasm for UAM volleyball, the goals she set for the program and her desire to serve not only the student-athletes on her team but to be a part of the UAM athletics family were evident from my initial conversations all the way through with the committee.” Director of Athletic Padraic McMeel stated. “I am excited for the future of UAM Volleyball and look forward to seeing the student-athletes loving volleyball again and representing UAM in a first-class manner. I would also like to thank Becky Phillips, Faculty Athletic Representative, and Ka’Lisa Stanfield, Assistant AD for Compliance, for serving on the selection committee.”

This entry was posted on Friday, March 15th, 2019 at 10:16 am and is filed under UAM Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.