Director of Athletics Greg Byrne has announced the hiring of Lindsey Devine as The University of Alabama’s next head volleyball coach.

“We were very impressed with Lindsey’s experience and success on the college level, as well as her experience with USA Volleyball,” said Byrne. “She’s been able to compete at the highest levels both nationally and within conference play on a consistent basis. From talking with some of her former student-athletes, it was obvious she is a great coach and cares about the well-roundedness of her student-athletes on the court, academically and socially.”

Devine arrives in Tuscaloosa following a successful 16-year stint at East Tennessee State as its all-time winningest coach. Under her tenure, 28 student-athletes earned all-conference accolades, including three Player of the Year, three Libero of the Year and two Freshman of the Year award-winners.

“It is an honor and a privilege to be named the next head volleyball coach at The University of Alabama,” said Devine. “From the minute that I engaged in conversations with the search committee, to the moment I stepped on campus to visit, it was clear that The University of Alabama was comprised of very educated, passionate and committed individuals, who demonstrated a positive comradery of dedication to excellence. I would like to thank Director of Athletics Greg Byrne, Senior Associate Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator Marie Robbins and the entire search committee for communicating to me their vision for the athletic department with such passion and energy. There is already a great foundation in place for this program to be successful, and I look forward to building on that.

“I will always cherish my coaching career at ETSU. I am extremely thankful to Dr. Brian Noland, Scott Carter, Kay Lennon, Dr. Sander and all the student-athletes for helping me grow ETSU volleyball over the past 16 years.

“I would also like to thank my husband, Carl, and children, Megan and Owen, for their continued support over the years. We are all very excited about this next chapter and have already added ‘Roll Tide!’ to our vocabulary.”

This season, Devine was named the Southern Conference Coach of the Year for the second time in three years after leading the Buccaneers to a regular season conference title and its highest win total (28) since 1983. ETSU earned an at-large bid to the 2018 NCAA Tournament, the first team in Southern Conference history to do so, marking back-to-back postseason appearances for the Bucs.

Off the court, ETSU sported a 100 percent graduation rate under Devine and earned the AVCA Team Academic Award each of the last nine years, which requires at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade point average.

In addition to her collegiate experience, Devine has had coaching duties with USA Volleyball. She assisted the USA Youth National Team at the 2013 World Championships in Thailand, earning a silver medal. In 2014, Devine helped the USA Senior National Team to a gold medal at the NORECA Championships, and a year later, assisted the USA Youth National Team to a silver medal at the 2015 World Championships in Peru.

Devine began her coaching career at Durham Attack Volleyball Club in Ontario, serving two years as assistant coach for the 17 Boys Elite.

Devine is a graduate of York University in Toronto, where she earned bachelor’s degrees in English, physical education and education. She received a master’s degree from ETSU in 2014 and a Global Sport Leadership Doctoral in 2018. She was an outside hitter on York’s volleyball team from 1984-88, earning four all-province titles and a bronze medal at the 1985 Canadian National Championships.

Devine and her husband, Carl, have two children, Megan and Owen. Megan played for her mother and is one of the most decorated student-athletes in ETSU volleyball history, earning AVCA All-America honors as a senior. She was also two-time Atlantic Sun Player of the Year and a three-time first team all-conference performer.

All such employment contracts are subject to approval by The University of Alabama Board of Trustees.

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