The University of Redlands and Bulldog Athletics welcomed Kierra Jones as the inaugural, full-time Assistant Women's Volleyball Coach to the program on Monday, July 9. She looks forward to sharing her outstanding competitive experience and love for the sport with the Bulldogs later this fall.
"I am honored to be one of newest members of the Bulldog family! I have a passion for developing student-athletes to their full potential, on and off the court, and I am excited to work with the high-caliber student-athletes on the team," stated Jones. "I believe Coach Lisa is building a strong program and I look forward to helping achieve her vision of success. Together we can create a team culture and legacy that are unmatched."
Jones most recently served as a director and coach at Pursuit Volleyball Club out of Loma Linda. She provided a variety of skills for the growth and success of the club through marketing, coaching, registration management, and staff development. Furthermore, she worked with Head Women's Volleyball Coach Lisa Lindberg as an assistant coach for her Pursuit 16s Team.
"We are so happy to have Kierra join our staff. In addition to her outstanding playing career, she brings years of experience in skill development and club coaching," commented Lindberg. "She has a passion for motivating student-athletes to make the most of their experience and brings a lot of energy to the court. We are very excited to have her join the Bulldog volleyball family."
Jones also gained experience as the Assistant Coach and Junior Varsity Head Coach at Aquinas High School. In addition, she has coached for a variety of teams and camps over the last few years, including those at Purdue University and Academy Volleyball Club. She recently helped Hamilton Southeastern High School in Indiana advance to the division semifinals for the first time.
Jones competed for the Purdue women's volleyball team for four years, earning American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America honorable mention as a senior. She also represented the Boilermakers as their NCAA Woman of the Year nominee in 2015. She helped the team advance to the NCAA tournament three times during her tenure, as highlighted by its NCAA Elite 8 appearance in 2013. She landed on the AVCA All-Northeast Region Team, earned the Big 10 Sportsmanship Award, and garnered Academic All-Big Ten honors. As a first-year player, Jones represented the Boilermakers on the All Big-Ten Freshman Team for her outstanding presence as a middle blocker. Over her tenure, she recorded a remarkable .367 hitting percentage and 454 total blocks.
During her college career, Jones traveled overseas to compete against professional teams in Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.
She completed her degree in Movement and Sports Science in 2015.
Jones is among multiple new hires for Bulldog Athletics, as the department continues to make the transition from graduate assistants to full-time assistants.