Darty Hires Sullivan, Unroe To Coaching Staff
January 30, 2018 | Volleyball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Newly-minted Mississippi State volleyball coach Julie Darty has begun assembling her Bulldog coaching staff with the hiring of a pair of assistants.
Ryan Sullivan and Taylor Unroe will both be joining the #DartyParty as assistant coaches. Sullivan accompanies Darty from Jacksonville, and Unroe comes to Starkville from High Point.
"This staff, to me, is a well-rounded combination of intelligent people," Darty said. "I don't want to surround myself with people who always tell me 'yes.' I want to be around people who bring fresh ideas and strong opinions to the table. I want people to think outside of the box, and they each do that in their own unique ways. I know each individual on this staff and I think, together, we are all going to make one another better."
Sullivan has seven years of collegiate coaching experience. While at Jacksonville, the Dolphins were tops in the Atlantic Sun Conference in digs (1,846) and block solos (73) while finishing third in total blocks (212). In his lone season at JU, the Dolphins finished second in the A-Sun standings with a 12-2 league mark to accompany an 18-10 overall ledger.
"I am so excited to bring Ryan with me," Darty said. "After the season we had at Jacksonville and knowing the type of tireless worker and amazing trainer he is, I could not imagine not working with him. Ryan brings so much to the table. He does a great job training all positions, but he is most gifted with setters, and I think allowing him to come in and train the setters in our gym and run the offense will allow us to take major steps in the right direction.
"Ryan is one of brightest and smartest coaches I have ever been around. He approaches practice and scouting with preparation and an attention to detail and a focus that is hard to find. I am beyond excited to continue to work alongside Ryan as he also compliments me very well, in terms of our personalities and our strengths and weaknesses, and I genuinely just enjoy working with him."
Sullivan graduated from Indiana in 2012 with a degree in psychology while being a captain and setter for the school's volleyball club. He led the team to three national Top 10 finishes, including a final four appearance in 2011 when he was tabbed conference player of the year.
"I'm excited to continue my coaching career under the mentorship of Julie Darty," Sullivan said. "It has been invaluable being able to work with someone you trust who trusts you, and her vision for the program is easy to buy into. Her love for her staff and players is unmatched, and I can't wait for the community to get a sense for who she is as a person and leader. The program is filled with potential, and I can't wait to get to work."
Sullivan's Coaching Career
2018-present: Mississippi State (assistant coach)
2017: Jacksonville (associate head coach of volleyball and head coach of beach volleyball)
2016: Louisburg College (N.C.) [NJCAA] (head coach)
2014-2015: Villanova (assistant coach/video coordinator)
2012-2013: Indiana University (volunteer coach)
In addition to her three years of coaching experience, Unroe is already familiar with the Southeastern Conference after playing volleyball at Florida where she became the program's first SEC Libero of the Year while garnering an All-America Honorable Mention accolade in 2014.
"I have known Taylor for a few years and just getting to know her in conversations while out recruiting or working camps with her, I have always been impressed with how poised, mature and professional she is," Darty said. "During the search for this assistant spot, I knew I needed someone who was tough, energetic and loyal, and Taylor checked all of those boxes. Taylor has done a great job in her previous roles, and I know that she has had her hand in all aspects of running a successful program so she has lots of experience.
"From the playing side, Taylor knows this conference super well from her playing experience at Florida, and she is one of the toughest competitors I have ever seen. Her recruiting connections will immediately help us and her ability to connect and relate to our student-athletes will be something that I can rely on immediately."
Unroe was the defensive coordinator at High Point University. While on staff, the team earned its first ever at large bid to the NCAA tournament for any sport in school history. The team went undefeated in Big South Conference play.
During her time at George Mason University, and under her tutelage, the Patriots led the Atlantic-10 in digs for the first time since the school joined the conference. Under her direction, George Mason led the league in blocks for the first time.
"I am so excited for this opportunity and want to thank Julie for giving me this chance," Unroe said. "The SEC is a league I know well, and it feels good to be back. Julie's vision and work ethic is the reason I want to be a part of the Mississippi State volleyball team. I'm thrilled to get the chance to learn from her as a recruiter and as a young female in our sport."
Unroe graduated from UF with a bachelor's degree in Family, Youth and Community Science in 2014. A year later, she earned a master's degree in the same field.
Unroe's Coaching Career
2018-present: Mississippi State (assistant coach)
2017: High Point (assistant coach)
2015-16: George Mason (assistant coach)
"Just like I care about the team, I care about my staff," Darty said. "I want to work with people I enjoy and I like. These people are family to me, and I could not be more excited to start this journey here with them."
For more information on Mississippi State volleyball, follow the Bulldogs on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateVB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
Ryan Sullivan and Taylor Unroe will both be joining the #DartyParty as assistant coaches. Sullivan accompanies Darty from Jacksonville, and Unroe comes to Starkville from High Point.
"This staff, to me, is a well-rounded combination of intelligent people," Darty said. "I don't want to surround myself with people who always tell me 'yes.' I want to be around people who bring fresh ideas and strong opinions to the table. I want people to think outside of the box, and they each do that in their own unique ways. I know each individual on this staff and I think, together, we are all going to make one another better."
Sullivan has seven years of collegiate coaching experience. While at Jacksonville, the Dolphins were tops in the Atlantic Sun Conference in digs (1,846) and block solos (73) while finishing third in total blocks (212). In his lone season at JU, the Dolphins finished second in the A-Sun standings with a 12-2 league mark to accompany an 18-10 overall ledger.
"I am so excited to bring Ryan with me," Darty said. "After the season we had at Jacksonville and knowing the type of tireless worker and amazing trainer he is, I could not imagine not working with him. Ryan brings so much to the table. He does a great job training all positions, but he is most gifted with setters, and I think allowing him to come in and train the setters in our gym and run the offense will allow us to take major steps in the right direction.
"Ryan is one of brightest and smartest coaches I have ever been around. He approaches practice and scouting with preparation and an attention to detail and a focus that is hard to find. I am beyond excited to continue to work alongside Ryan as he also compliments me very well, in terms of our personalities and our strengths and weaknesses, and I genuinely just enjoy working with him."
Sullivan graduated from Indiana in 2012 with a degree in psychology while being a captain and setter for the school's volleyball club. He led the team to three national Top 10 finishes, including a final four appearance in 2011 when he was tabbed conference player of the year.
"I'm excited to continue my coaching career under the mentorship of Julie Darty," Sullivan said. "It has been invaluable being able to work with someone you trust who trusts you, and her vision for the program is easy to buy into. Her love for her staff and players is unmatched, and I can't wait for the community to get a sense for who she is as a person and leader. The program is filled with potential, and I can't wait to get to work."
Sullivan's Coaching Career
2018-present: Mississippi State (assistant coach)
2017: Jacksonville (associate head coach of volleyball and head coach of beach volleyball)
2016: Louisburg College (N.C.) [NJCAA] (head coach)
2014-2015: Villanova (assistant coach/video coordinator)
2012-2013: Indiana University (volunteer coach)
In addition to her three years of coaching experience, Unroe is already familiar with the Southeastern Conference after playing volleyball at Florida where she became the program's first SEC Libero of the Year while garnering an All-America Honorable Mention accolade in 2014.
"I have known Taylor for a few years and just getting to know her in conversations while out recruiting or working camps with her, I have always been impressed with how poised, mature and professional she is," Darty said. "During the search for this assistant spot, I knew I needed someone who was tough, energetic and loyal, and Taylor checked all of those boxes. Taylor has done a great job in her previous roles, and I know that she has had her hand in all aspects of running a successful program so she has lots of experience.
"From the playing side, Taylor knows this conference super well from her playing experience at Florida, and she is one of the toughest competitors I have ever seen. Her recruiting connections will immediately help us and her ability to connect and relate to our student-athletes will be something that I can rely on immediately."
Unroe was the defensive coordinator at High Point University. While on staff, the team earned its first ever at large bid to the NCAA tournament for any sport in school history. The team went undefeated in Big South Conference play.
During her time at George Mason University, and under her tutelage, the Patriots led the Atlantic-10 in digs for the first time since the school joined the conference. Under her direction, George Mason led the league in blocks for the first time.
"I am so excited for this opportunity and want to thank Julie for giving me this chance," Unroe said. "The SEC is a league I know well, and it feels good to be back. Julie's vision and work ethic is the reason I want to be a part of the Mississippi State volleyball team. I'm thrilled to get the chance to learn from her as a recruiter and as a young female in our sport."
Unroe graduated from UF with a bachelor's degree in Family, Youth and Community Science in 2014. A year later, she earned a master's degree in the same field.
Unroe's Coaching Career
2018-present: Mississippi State (assistant coach)
2017: High Point (assistant coach)
2015-16: George Mason (assistant coach)
"Just like I care about the team, I care about my staff," Darty said. "I want to work with people I enjoy and I like. These people are family to me, and I could not be more excited to start this journey here with them."
For more information on Mississippi State volleyball, follow the Bulldogs on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateVB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
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