The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Messersmith Announces Jeff White as New Assistant Volleyball Coach
2/15/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – UAB head volleyball coach Kerry Messersmith has announced the hiring of Dr. Jeff White as the new assistant volleyball coach. White spent the three seasons as the head coach at Birmingham Southern College.
“We are extremely excited to welcome Jeff to the UAB volleyball staff,” Messersmith said. “He is enthusiastic and has great passion for the game of volleyball. Those qualities will make him a great asset in the gym and on the recruiting trail.”
In three seasons at the helm of Birmingham Southern, White amassed a 71-24 record (.747 winning percentage) including back-to-back-to-back 20 plus win seasons. He coached 17 All-SAA team members including three first-team selections.
“I would like to thank Kerry Messersmith and the UAB Department of Athletics for affording me the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream of coaching at the Division I level by welcoming me to the UAB Blazer family,” White said. “I am excited to learn from such an accomplished coach like Kerry and to help bring Conference USA championships to UAB.”
Overall, White has over 20 years of coaching experience at all levels including junior high, high school, club and collegiate levels. He was named the Georgia High School Volleyball Coach of the Year in 2001, 2005 and 2008, as well as being named the Atlanta Journal Constitution Coach of the Year in 2001 and 2008.
A native of California, White earned his Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from California State University Northridge in 1992 and his Master’s in Health Studies from the University of Alabama in 2003. He earned his Ph.D. in Kinesiology in 2014 from the University of Georgia. The title of his dissertation was ‘A Study of Mentoring in Volleyball Coaching.’
He and his wife, Stephanie, live in Birmingham.
“One of the things that impressed me most about Jeff is that he truly cares about the whole student-athlete experience,” Messersmith said. “He will be a great fit as we move forward as a program.”
For more information on the UAB Volleyball team follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_VB) or on Instagram (@UAB_VB).
