JONESBORO, Ark. (6/26/23) – One of the most decorated players in Arkansas State volleyball history is set to return to Jonesboro, as head coach Brian Gerwig announced the hiring of Carlisa May to his staff as assistant coach.

“Let me be the first to welcome Carlisa May back to Arkansas State!,” Gerwig said. “As a player, Carlisa was an exceptional talent, but she is an even better coach. She cares deeply about her players, makes meaningful connections and pushes them to be their very best.”

May, who will also serve as recruiting coordinator, joins Gerwig’s staff after spending the 2022 season as an assistant at UT Arlington, where she helped the Lady Mavs to a 17-10 mark.

“I’m extremely excited to be joining Coach Gerwig’s staff and the Arkansas State volleyball program,” May said. “This university, volleyball program and the Red Wolf community mean so much to me, so to have the opportunity to come back home where it all started feels like a dream come true. I can’t wait to work with our staff and student-athletes and help build a championship program.”

She also served a stint on former A-State head coach David Rehr’s staff at Houston as a graduate assistant in 2020 before being elevated to interim assistant coach (2021). During her two seasons at Houston, the Cougars went a combined 38-18 and won the American Athletic Conference West Division in 2020.

In October 2021, May was one of just 10 NCAA coaches to receive the 2021 AVCA Diversity Award.

The Lee’s Summit, Mo., native lettered for the Red Wolves from 2015 to 2018 and was a three-time Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year – the only player in conference history to earn the award three times.

As a freshman, May earned AVCA Honorable Mention All-American laurels in addition to being the Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year before following it with a 445-kill sophomore campaign en route to her first Offensive Player of the Year honor. She posted 507 kills as a junior before ending her tenure with 584 kills in her senior season.

May is A-State’s career leader in kills (1,901) and kills per set (4.14), while ranking third in attacks (4,780). Her stat line of 584 kills and 4.27 kills per set in 2018 are single-season school records in the 25-point rally-scoring era.

“Carlisa and I have a long history working together,” Gerwig added. “She knows how I think and how I coach. Because of her knowledge of how we train and how we play volleyball, she will be able to make an instant impact in our gym. I am honored that she is returning to Arkansas State to help me build a championship-caliber program, and am looking forward to getting to work.”

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