Sally Polhamus was announced as the Georgia State head volleyball coach on December 20, 2013.
In her first year, Polhamus led GSU to its first postseason bid since 2011. Georgia State won twice as many conference matches as the previous season and also excelled in the classroom, receiving the AVCA Academic Award for the first time in five years. While at Georgia State, Polhamus has coached the 2021 Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Meisheia Griffin, along with four all-conference honorees Deidra Bohannon, 2015 All-Sun Belt First Team, Eliza Zachary, 2015 All-Sun Belt Second Team, Celeste Friesen, 2017 All-Sun Belt Second Team, and Griffin, 2021 All-Sun Belt First Team and 2019 All-Sun Belt Second Team. Â
Polhamus brought 17 years of coaching experience with her when she accepted the position. Prior to her career at Georgia State, she served three years as an assistant coach for the nationally ranked Florida volleyball program, helping the Gators to three consecutive appearances in the NCAA tournament.
Polhamus helped Florida rank second in the nation in hitting percentage (.331) in 2013, one of only five teams nationally to hit better than .300 for the year. It was the third consecutive season the Gators ranked in the top five under Polhamus, as they were fourth (.298) in 2012 and lead the nation (.309) in 2011.
Polhamus’ pupils have excelled at the highest levels, including outside hitters who earned two All-America awards and national freshman-of-the-year honors.Â
Three players Polhamus recruited for the 2014 class were ranked among the top 60 nationally, including No. 3, No. 16 and No. 52. Two of the recruits also earned their state’s Gatorade Player-of-the-Year award. The class ranked No. 4 in the country.
Prior to joining the Gators, Polhamus was the head coach at Winthrop for four seasons (2007 to 2011), earning a 64-59 overall record while winning a conference championship. Her teams went 39-21 in conference play and took home a share of the Big South title in 2007. Twice under Polhamus an Eagle was named conference player of the year. Her career mark of 64 victories ranks third in Winthrop history.
In her first coaching stint in Atlanta, Polhamus served as an assistant at Georgia Tech from 2002 to 2006. During that span, she helped the Yellow Jackets to three NCAA tournament bids, including an appearance in the 2003 regional final and a spot in the 2004 regional semifinals. Georgia Tech won two ACC regular-season titles (2003, 2004) and an ACC Championship crown (2002) with Polhamus on the bench. Two Georgia Tech outside hitters earned All-America honors under Polhamus, including three-time All-American Lynnette Moster.
On the recruiting trail, Polhamus annually brought top recruiting classes to Atlanta, including her 2004 class that ranked as high as No. 8 nationally by PrepVolleyball.com.
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). She was inducted into the Xavier Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005.
Polhamus earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Xavier in 1997. She went on to receive a master’s degree in educational administration from Dayton in 1999, where she also served three years (1997-99) as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. Polhamus then spent two years as assistant coach at Indiana (2000-01) before coming to Atlanta.
A native of Fort Wright, Ky., the former Sally Schulte is married to Stephen Polhamus.
Polhamus at a Glance
Hometown:Â Fort Wright, Ky.
Family:Â Husband, Stephen
Education
· Bachelor’s in Health and Physical Education, Xavier (1997)
· Master’s in Educational Administration, Dayton (1999)
Playing Career:Â Xavier, 1993-96
Coaching Career
· Dayton: Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, 1997-99
· Indiana: Assistant Coach, 2000-01
· Georgia Tech: Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, 2002-06
· Winthrop: Head Coach, 2007-2011
· Florida: Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, 2011-13
Head Coaching Record:Â 126-191Â (.398), 11Â seasons
