University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Blake Williams/MSU Athletics
Unroe Named Volleyball Associate Coach
Jan 10, 2019 | Women's Volleyball
Florida graduate joins Memphis staff after stints at George Mason, High Point and Mississippi State.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Taylor Unroe has joined the University of Memphis volleyball staff as an associate coach, head coach Sean Burdette announced Thursday. Unroe had served as an assistant coach at Mississippi State the past year.
Unroe will be in charge of the team's defensive systems and will work with the program's outside hitters, liberos and backcourt personnel.
"I am thrilled to add Taylor to our staff as she fit exactly what we were looking for with her high-level playing experience, recruiting and training of systems and techniques," said Burdette, who enters his second season as the Tigers head coach in 2019. "One of the main things that really stood out is her ability to connect with people from recruits to student-athletes, alums, administrators and other coaches.
"Taylor brings a unique skill set to coaching, as she has played multiple different positions at a very high level in high school and club volleyball and at the University of Florida. Having coached against her during my time at Ole Miss, I know she is a fierce competitor and that has carried over into her coaching career.
"She brings a fantastic perspective on training from her time as a student-athlete at Florida to her coaching stops at George Mason, High Point and Mississippi State. Taylor will be heavily involved in our day-to-day recruiting efforts as she has great ideas and connections with club and high school coaches."
Prior to her one season at Mississippi State, Unroe spent the 2017 campaign at High Point and served as the Panthers' defensive coordinator. She helped guide High Point to a 24-8 overall record and a perfect 16-0 Big South Conference mark. The Panthers earned an at-large bid to the 2017 NCAA Tournament, the first High Point program in any sport to receive an at-large NCAA postseason bid. The Panthers also earned 11 Big South Conference postseason honors.
"The most exciting thing about Memphis volleyball is Sean's (Burdette) ability to build," Unroe said. "He's a proven builder in our profession, and that is rare. What makes me excited about coming here is working with someone who can build a program up to a championship level.
"Memphis has a vibrant club volleyball scene, and the surrounding states also have good junior programs. We're in a really good location, and Memphis has a lot of high-level players. We have a good recruiting base here.
"I believe in being a student of the game, reading situations and analyzing what's happening on the other side of the net. To play at the highest level, you just can't react; you have to anticipate. My head coach (at Florida) was great in empowering us to be good people, good teammates and having success in the classroom. I believe in that too, and I want to empower our student-athletes to be winners in other parts of their lives, not only volleyball."
As an assistant coach at George Mason in 2015 and 2016, Unroe was the program's defensive coordinator and passing coach. Under her direction, the Patriots led the Atlantic 10 Conference in digs for the first time since the school joined the league. Unroe also coached the squad to its best finish in blocks since joining the league.
Before jumping to the coaching ranks, Unroe had a stellar four-year playing career at Florida (2011-14) under head coach Mary Wise. Unroe helped lead the Gators to four-straight, 25-plus win seasons, four-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, two Southeastern Conference (SEC) championships (2012, 2014) and two NCAA Tournament regional finals. With Unroe on the floor, Florida compiled an incredible 110-19 overall record and a 70-6 SEC mark.
Unroe was named the 2013 SEC Libero of the Year, the first Gator to earn the honor in program history. Her name still appears on Florida's all-time charts for sets played (5th; 449), digs (2nd; 1,558) and aces (9th; 130). Unroe also was a member of the 2010 Florida team, but was redshirted that season. The 2010 Gators went 29-2 overall and 20-0 in the SEC, winning the league title and advancing to the NCAA regional semifinals.
A Muncie, Ind., native, Unroe graduated from the Florida with a bachelor's degree in family, youth and community science in 2014. A year later, she earned her master's degree in the same field from Florida.
Prior to her college career, Unroe was a member of the Muncie Burris High School program that won four-straight Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) state titles, including her senior campaign in 2009 when the Owls went 40-0. As a senior, Unroe was named the Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year, and she was selected a 2009 Under Armour Girls High School All-American.
Unroe will be in charge of the team's defensive systems and will work with the program's outside hitters, liberos and backcourt personnel.
"I am thrilled to add Taylor to our staff as she fit exactly what we were looking for with her high-level playing experience, recruiting and training of systems and techniques," said Burdette, who enters his second season as the Tigers head coach in 2019. "One of the main things that really stood out is her ability to connect with people from recruits to student-athletes, alums, administrators and other coaches.
"Taylor brings a unique skill set to coaching, as she has played multiple different positions at a very high level in high school and club volleyball and at the University of Florida. Having coached against her during my time at Ole Miss, I know she is a fierce competitor and that has carried over into her coaching career.
"She brings a fantastic perspective on training from her time as a student-athlete at Florida to her coaching stops at George Mason, High Point and Mississippi State. Taylor will be heavily involved in our day-to-day recruiting efforts as she has great ideas and connections with club and high school coaches."
Prior to her one season at Mississippi State, Unroe spent the 2017 campaign at High Point and served as the Panthers' defensive coordinator. She helped guide High Point to a 24-8 overall record and a perfect 16-0 Big South Conference mark. The Panthers earned an at-large bid to the 2017 NCAA Tournament, the first High Point program in any sport to receive an at-large NCAA postseason bid. The Panthers also earned 11 Big South Conference postseason honors.
"The most exciting thing about Memphis volleyball is Sean's (Burdette) ability to build," Unroe said. "He's a proven builder in our profession, and that is rare. What makes me excited about coming here is working with someone who can build a program up to a championship level.
"Memphis has a vibrant club volleyball scene, and the surrounding states also have good junior programs. We're in a really good location, and Memphis has a lot of high-level players. We have a good recruiting base here.
"I believe in being a student of the game, reading situations and analyzing what's happening on the other side of the net. To play at the highest level, you just can't react; you have to anticipate. My head coach (at Florida) was great in empowering us to be good people, good teammates and having success in the classroom. I believe in that too, and I want to empower our student-athletes to be winners in other parts of their lives, not only volleyball."
As an assistant coach at George Mason in 2015 and 2016, Unroe was the program's defensive coordinator and passing coach. Under her direction, the Patriots led the Atlantic 10 Conference in digs for the first time since the school joined the league. Unroe also coached the squad to its best finish in blocks since joining the league.
Before jumping to the coaching ranks, Unroe had a stellar four-year playing career at Florida (2011-14) under head coach Mary Wise. Unroe helped lead the Gators to four-straight, 25-plus win seasons, four-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, two Southeastern Conference (SEC) championships (2012, 2014) and two NCAA Tournament regional finals. With Unroe on the floor, Florida compiled an incredible 110-19 overall record and a 70-6 SEC mark.
Unroe was named the 2013 SEC Libero of the Year, the first Gator to earn the honor in program history. Her name still appears on Florida's all-time charts for sets played (5th; 449), digs (2nd; 1,558) and aces (9th; 130). Unroe also was a member of the 2010 Florida team, but was redshirted that season. The 2010 Gators went 29-2 overall and 20-0 in the SEC, winning the league title and advancing to the NCAA regional semifinals.
A Muncie, Ind., native, Unroe graduated from the Florida with a bachelor's degree in family, youth and community science in 2014. A year later, she earned her master's degree in the same field from Florida.
Prior to her college career, Unroe was a member of the Muncie Burris High School program that won four-straight Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) state titles, including her senior campaign in 2009 when the Owls went 40-0. As a senior, Unroe was named the Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year, and she was selected a 2009 Under Armour Girls High School All-American.
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