PERKINSTON — The new Mississippi Gulf Coast women’s volleyball team will begin play in fall 2025, and Shayna Walsh has been entrusted as the first coach of MGCCC’s newest athletic program. The school has hired the proven winner to build the team.
“Getting the opportunity to start this volleyball program at Gulf Coast is such a special thing,” she said. “The sky is the limit for this program. The sport of volleyball is growing so fast in this state, and getting to be a part of the progress is such an incredible opportunity.”
Walsh has been the volleyball coach at Oak Grove High School the past three years, leading the Warriors to a 61-26 record. She was named South coach in the Mississippi Association of Coaches All-Star Game in 2023.
“We are excited about the next addition to the Gulf Coast Athletics Department,” Dean of Athletics Steven Campbell said. “Shayna brings a lot to the table with both collegiate playing experience and coaching experience in the state of Mississippi. We feel that her relationships with the high school coaches and student-athletes in our state will make us contenders right out of the gate.”
Walsh started her high school coaching career in 2020 at Seminary High School. She coached a season at Bear Branch Junior High in Magnolia, Texas, after having been a head coach for the Renegades Volleyball Club in Tomball, Texas, for three years. Her teams there made three appearances at the national tournament.
“Starting this program from ground zero is a challenge that I am running head first into, and I couldn’t be more optimistic and excited about it,” Walsh said. “The plan is to establish a team culture that we are proud of early on. Community and student body involvement within this program will be an important aspect. We want people to be excited about volleyball and this program. Expectations will be clear, and we will appreciate every practice and competition experience as a program.”
Walsh was a two-time All-State volleyball player at Magnolia High School in Texas. She was on a national runner-up team with Asics Willowbrook Volleyball Club and made six nationals appearances with the club. She was a two-time All-Conference performer at John Brown University and led the NAIA in service aces in 2014. At John Brown, she completed an associate’s degree in engineering in mechanical engineering, then graduated with a bachelor’s from Sam Houston State University.
While completing her master’s in coaching and physical education at the University of Arkansas-Monticello, she was a two-time First-Team All-Conference player. She earned a master’s in education from William Carey University.
Walsh is married to Orrin Walsh, who works for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
“I so appreciate the administration at Gulf Cost for entrusting me with this responsibility,” Walsh said. “The future of volleyball is so bright, not only for Gulf Coast, but for the entire state of Mississippi, and I couldn’t be more honored and excited to lead another opportunity for young women to further both their volleyball and academic careers.”
For more information on MGCCC’s 12 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.
This post originally posted at https://www.mgcccbulldogs.com/landing/index by MGCCC Athletics
