Our coaches are the driving forces behind Georgia State volleyball. Over the next several weeks, we will highlight each coach leading up to the highly anticipated 2021 campaign through our three-part "Faces of GSU Volleyball" series. First, we will highlight the leader of the Georgia State volleyball program, head coach Sally Polhamus.  
 

Sally Polhamus was announced as Georgia State's head volleyball coach on December 20, 2013. Polhamus brought 17 years of coaching experience to GSU, which included a three-year stint at national powerhouse Florida as an assistant coach, a four-year stint as the head coach at Winthrop, five years as an assistant coach at Georgia Tech, two years as an assistant coach at Indiana and three years as an assistant coach at Dayton.  

"Originally, having the opportunity to be a part of a university, athletic department and team that continues to grow and strive for success on all levels drew me to Georgia State," said Polhamus. "Now, seeing the women that our former players have turned out to be has been thrilling."  

Since coming to Georgia State, Polhamus has put together a solid resume which includes coaching four all-conference selections, highlighted by 2015 All-Sun Belt First Team selection Deidra Bohannon. In her first season at the helm in 2014, Polhamus led the Panthers to their first postseason bid since 2011.

Polhamus has also emphasized academics throughout her time as the head coach at GSU as the Panthers have earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award four consecutive years. The AVCA Team Academic Award recognizes teams that displayed excellence in the classroom by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade-point average on a 4.0 scale. 

"Challenging our players to be their best, both on and off the court is what I love the most about coaching," said Polhamus. "Tactically, and technically, training the game of volleyball, while also watching our players continue to grow into wonderful people is amazing."

As a player, Polhamus lettered four years at Xavier from 1993 to 1996, earning all-league honors all four years. She finished her career as the school's all-time leader in kills (1,749) and was second in digs (1,338). Polhamus earned a bachelor's degree in education from Xavier in 1997 and went on to be inducted into the Xavier Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005. She eventually earned a master's degree in educational administration during her stint as an assistant coach at Dayton in 1999.

This season, the Georgia State will look to build upon it's momentum from 2020. Last year, the Panthers found their stride towards the end of the season, winning six of their last seven regular season matches, which included a four game winning streak, before falling in the Sun Belt Tournament. 

"My favorite memory while coaching here at GSU was our finish last season," said Polhamus. "It really showed our team's competitiveness and chemistry on and off the court. I'm excited to build upon that run this year."


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