GREENEVILLE, Tenn. — Hannah Barrett has been named the new head women’s volleyball coach at Tusculum University announced Josh Ealy, vice president of athletics.
Barrett replaces Danielle Marante, who stepped down after five seasons at TU, to accept the head coaching job at NCAA Division I University of North Carolina Asheville.
Barrett comes to Greeneville after serving the last two seasons as an assistant coach at NCAA Division I University of South Alabama. She helped the Jaguars to a 40-22 overall record including 22-10 in Sun Belt Conference play. She was the lead coach for USA’s offensive game plan and was responsible for the setter and middle positions.
In 2023, the Jags posted a 22-9 record, advanced to the Sun Belt Tournament semifinal and later earned a berth to the NCAA Tournament. She mentored Sun Belt Setter of the Year Kailey Keeble who led the league in assists, averaging 10.65 per set, which ranked 15th-most in the country. The Jaguars had three players garner All-Conference laurels including Keeble, who was a first team selection. Keeble would later earn Academic All-America® second team honors as selected by the College Sports Communicators.
In Barrett’s first season in Mobile, the Jaguars went 18-13 and finished second in the SBC West Division. South Alabama would go 2-1 in the postseason tournament and advanced to the semifinal. Four student-athletes garnered All-Sun Belt recognition including Rachel Hickey who was tabbed the league’s Libero of the Year. USA setters finished second in the conference averaging 12.29 assists per set, while the team was tops in the league in digs (15.73 dps) and team total blocks (294.5 – 35th in NCAA).
“We are thrilled to welcome Hannah to our Tusculum family,” said Ealy. “Hannah has already proven herself as a winner both as a student-athlete and an assistant coach. She is committed to supporting our student-athletes in all aspects of their collegiate journey. She has a clear vision for the team and understands the tradition of success associated with the Tusculum women’s volleyball program.”
Prior to South Alabama, she served as the director of operations at Texas Tech University during the 2021 season. The Red Raiders posted 17-13 record and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
The Highland, California native spent two years at Gonzaga University as a volunteer coach where she assisted in all aspects of the program including statistical data analysis, coordinated team travel and other administrative duties.
“I would like to thank Vice President of Athletics Josh Ealy and President Dr. Scott Hummel for the opportunity to be the head coach of the Tusculum women’s volleyball program,” said Barrett. “Tusculum University has a great mission statement and support system that aligns with my coaching philosophy. I am excited to get to work and continue to build upon Tusculum’s championship culture.”
Barrett played her collegiate career at California State University San Bernardino where she led the Coyotes to three California Collegiate Athletic Association championships. In her junior season, CSUSB won the NCAA Division II West Regional championship and advanced to the DII Elite Eight. She served as team captain during her senior campaign and was president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee from 2017-2019 after serving as treasurer and team representative for the volleyball team.
She earned her Bachelors of Arts degree from CSUSB in 2019 while majoring in liberal studies with a minor in mathematics. She completed her Masters of Arts in sport administration in 2021 at Gonzaga.
Tusculum went 22-7 in 2023 while capturing the program’s first South Atlantic Conference Tournament championship. The team earned its seventh NCAA II Tournament berth.
