STATESBORO, Ga. ? Nicole McCray has been hired as Georgia Southern University’s head volleyball coach, announced by Director of Athletics Sam Baker Thursday afternoon (Feb. 23). McCray replaces Kerry Messersmith, who resigned to accept the head coaching position at UAB.

McCray comes to Georgia Southern after spending last year as an assistant coach at Georgia, working with the middle hitters. She coached middle hitter Alexandra Oquendo who was named to the 2005 All-South Region by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

The Longview, Texas, native has a year of head coaching experience serving as head coach at Berry College in 2004, leading the Lady Vikings to a 22-17 record. A former All-America player at the University of Florida, McCray played professionally in Puerto Rico’s Superior League for the Conquistadoras de Guaynabo after graduation.

During her senior year at UF, McCray helped lead the Gators to the 2002 NCAA Final Four. She was an integral part of four consecutive Southeastern Conference championship teams.

She was named Honorable Mention All-America in 2000 and 2001 before earning Second Team All-America honors her senior year. The SEC Most Valuable Player in 2000, McCray was a four-time All-SEC performer. She left Florida ranked second all-time with 529 blocks. Following her senior year she received the Ben Hill Griffin Award, honoring Florida’s top female student-athlete.

McCray takes over a Georgia Southern program that returns 10 players and three starters off last year’s 21-11 team that finished 13-5 in the Southern Conference.

“Our goal was to identify an individual that will build on the success that Coach Messersmith brought to our program. In Nicole I think we found that person,” said Baker. “She brings great energy to the job and I look forward to watching her impart her vision for the direction of the program.”