Bill Ferguson has been named the inaugural head coach for Catawba College Men’s Volleyball, Catawba’s Director of Athletics Michelle Caddigan announced Monday morning.
“I could not be more pleased to announce the hiring of Bill Ferguson as the inaugural head coach of our Men’s Volleyball program,” Caddigan said. “His vast experience ranging from the NCCAA, ACC, Pac-12 and USA Volleyball makes him uniquely and exceptionally qualified to lead our program. His expertise, passion and commitment to excellence and the student athlete experience fits perfectly with Catawba Culture and the direction we are pursuing within our athletics department. I can’t wait for Coach Ferguson to get started! Welcome to the Catawba Family, Coach!”
Ferguson, a two-time American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) National Coach of the Year, has an extended track record of success at the highest level of collegiate men’s volleyball. While at the University of Southern California, Ferguson led the Trojans to three NCAA Men’s Final Fours and two national runner-up finishes in 2009 and 2012.
“Catawba is already such a special place for our family and I am honored by the opportunity to build the men’s volleyball program from the ground up into something that the Catawba family can be proud of,” Ferguson said. “I would like to thank President David P. Nelson and Director of Athletics Michelle Caddigan for their trust in me to launch, establish, and lead this program. From the first time our family drove on campus, I could see that groundbreaking things can be done here and I am grateful to have a chance to grow the game at such a special place. Catawba is an amazing learning community with extraordinary people and I can’t wait to get to work.”
Ferguson has recent experience starting up a men’s program, as he comes to Catawba from Carolina University in Winston Salem, where he spent the last four years building the program from its origin.
Prior to his time at CU, Ferguson was the women’s volleyball head coach at Wake Forest University for three seasons. There, he coached and developed two All-Atlantic Coast Conference players and defeated rivals Duke, North Carolina and Virginia along with national perennial powers Pitt and Louisville.
Ferguson came to North Carolina following ten extremely successful years as the men’s coach at USC, highlighted by three trips to the NCAA Men’s Final Four in a four-year span. Named the AVCA National Coach of the Year in 2009 and 2012, Ferguson coached and developed two AVCA National Players of the Year and two National Setters of the Year.
The Trojans won three Mountain Pacific Sports Federation championships under Ferguson, who was named the conference’s coach of the year in 2011. Under his direction, men’s volleyball twice earned the top team GPA among USC athletic teams.
Prior to joining the college coaching ranks, Ferguson served as head coach for the USA Men’s Junior National A2 team for three seasons after multiple years as an assistant for the USA Boy’s Youth National Team.
Under Ferguson’s direction, Catawba Men’s Volleyball will immediately begin recruiting and preparing for their first-ever season of competition, which is set to begin in January 2025. NCAA Men’s Volleyball is currently division-less, so Catawba will immediately compete directly with some of the top men’s volleyball programs in the country.
Ferguson is married to Catawba’s Director of Women’s Volleyball, Brenn Ferguson, and they have two daughters – Blake and Emery.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
Juan Figueroa - played at USC under Ferguson and was his first All-American. Earlier this month, Figueroa led Cal State-Los Angeles to the Division II women’s national title.
“I’m beyond happy with this hire. Ferg is one of the best in the business. He is an expert in turning programs around. He did it with us at USC and will do it again. I can’t wait to see what the future holds!!”
Dan Friend, head men’s volleyball coach - Lewis University
"Bill understands the landscape of Men's Volleyball and comes from a great background and a wealth of knowledge that will help Catawba get the program off the ground and running in a short amount of time. I'm excited for Catawba, Bill, and the continued growth of Men's Volleyball.”
Jeremy Price, head men’s volleyball coach - Queens University of Charlotte
“Catawba College has made a fantastic choice hiring Bill Ferguson to begin their men’s volleyball program. I have known Bill for over 15 years and had the privilege of competing against his USC teams. Bill’s teams are always superbly prepared and intensely competitive. As someone who has first-hand experience of the joys and challenges of beginning a program, I know Bill will have Catawba men’s volleyball competing at a high level in a very short time. Congratulations to Catawba and Bill for enhancing the growing sport of men’s volleyball in our region!”
John Kosty, head men’s volleyball coach - Stanford University
“I’m thrilled to have Coach Ferguson back in men’s volleyball. With his exceptional leadership and expertise, I am eager to witness the impact he will have on his young men. Welcome back, Coach Ferguson.”
