Wake Forest Volleyball has its new leader after naming Jeff Hulsmeyer as the new head coach of the Demon Deacons on Jan. 9.
“Hulsmeyer’s dedication to student-athlete development, combined with his expertise as a recruiter, tactician and trainer, along with his passion for the sport, make him an ideal leader for our program,” Vice President & Director of Athletics John Currie said via an online press release.
“Over the last several years, the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) has rapidly emerged as the premier collegiate volleyball conference in the country,” Currie added.
Prior to taking up the mantle in Winston-Salem, Jeff Hulsmeyer was the associate head coach of the Florida State Seminoles — an ACC foe. He spent ten years in Tallahassee but did not leave the program without success.
This past season, the Seminoles enjoyed their ninth-straight NCAA tournament appearance, boasting a 21-10 record. Additionally, they produced five 20-win seasons, as well as 12 All-Americans and 31 All-ACC selections during Hulsmeyer’s time at Florida State.
“We are well-positioned to build a consistently competitive volleyball program,” Currie said. “We believe Coach Hulsmeyer is the right person to lead Demon Deacons volleyball to its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance and beyond.”
Hulsmeyer has over three decades of coaching experience at the collegiate level. He’s spent time at Western Kentucky, Arkansas State, Illinois, Purdue, Georgetown College, Kansas State and Florida State, all before calling Wake Forest home. Whilst at Purdue, he brought in the 11th-ranked national recruiting class in 2002.
“We had an exceptionally talented pool of candidates, but [Hulsmeyer] stood out throughout the process,” Deputy Athletic Director Lindsey Babcock said. “His professionalism, championship experience and vision for the program aligned seamlessly with Wake Forest’s values and aspirations. [Hulsmeyer] is the perfect choice to elevate our volleyball program to new heights.”
To some, Hulsmeyer doesn’t only tout success, but also possesses the quality of character that Wake Forest searched for.
“Wake Forest is getting a coach and family that have high character and great role models,” Florida State Head Volleyball Coach Chris Poole said. “Jeff has coached at the highest collegiate level and understands how to build a program.”
The move comes after Wake Forest Director of Athletics John Currie announced on Dec. 15 that Randi Smart had been relieved of her duties as Head Coach.
Despite leading the Demon Deacons to their first postseason appearance in 36 years with an invite to the 2022 National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC), Smart finished with a record of 77-88 overall (32-73 ACC). Wake Forest’s 2024 campaign (13-18) under Smart was their worst since 2020 (1-15).
Meanwhile Hulsmeyer is lauded as a coach that has consistently succeeded on the court, in the locker room and in bringing in recruits. His familiarity with the ACC bodes well for his ability to navigate the fog of his first year at Varsity Arena.
“I am honored and humbled to lead the Demon Deacons volleyball program,” Hulsmeyer said in a website post to Demon Deacon fans. “I’m committed to building a championship-caliber program that reflects the values of this exceptional institution.”