Holy Innocents' Volleyball Coach Gets National Nod

Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School’s (HIES) Volleyball Coach Taylor Noland is no stranger to local and state recognition as both a player and a coach. Now she has national recognition, as well.

The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) has named Noland one of their Top 30 Under 30, an award created to honor 30 of the up-and-coming volleyball coaches under 30 years old at all levels of the game. Noland is the only female high school coach in the country to receive the honor.

“It’s humbling to be named by an organization like the AVCA,” Noland said. “I just want to add, however, that this wouldn’t be possible without all the hard work from my players over the years, not to mention the support from the athletic staff and parents at Holy Innocents’.”

Noland is no stranger to recognition for her own athletic skills and coaching. After the Lady Bears’ state championship in 2013, she became the first in Georgia to ever win state titles as both a player and a coach. (She won three as a player, in 2001, 2002 and 2003.) Last fall under her guidance, Holy Innocents’ varsity volleyball team also captured the state title for the second straight season. No other HIES team had ever won back-to-back state titles in any sport.

Noland was also named Coach of the Year the past two seasons, to add to the area and region coach of the year awards she has won since 2012.

As for the future, “I just want to continue to stay passionate about my program and my girls,” Noland said. “It’s never a job as long as you love what you do. My goal is always to positively influence my team members both on and off the court.”

The Golden Bears have a good chance of having another good season in 2015 on the volleyball courts: The team has only one graduating senior this year.