Fort Valley State University Men's Volleyball

Coach Tymesia “Tye” Miller is a Florida native and proud alumna of Winter Haven Senior High School. Her passion for volleyball began in middle school and quickly evolved into a standout collegiate playing career that laid the foundation for her future as one of the sport’s respected program builders and mentors. Miller earned an athletic scholarship to attend Polk State College, formerly known as Polk Community College, where she became a two-time All-Conference volleyball player and established herself as a dominant force on the court. Following a successful junior college career, she transferred to Fort Valley State University, where she immediately impacted the volleyball program under the leadership of Coach Hope/ Coach Bartley. Known for her powerful attacking ability and elite blocking presence, Miller ranked among the Top 5 in the SIAC in blocks and was strongly considered for conference honors. In 1995, she made the difficult decision to return home to care for her mother following a decline in her health. In 2004, Coach Tye returned to the game when a former teammate invited her to join the coaching staff at Winter Haven High School. Alongside Tanya Wooten, she helped transform the program into one of Central Florida’s rising volleyball programs, serving there until 2012. Shortly thereafter, Miller accepted a coaching opportunity at Santa Fe Catholic High School. Her emphasis on discipline, structure, and player development quickly produced results, as she guided the program from a 3–10 record to an impressive 18–9 season while leading the team to a third-place district finish and contention for a district championship. During that same season, one of her student-athletes was ranked No. 1 in the State of Florida by MaxPreps for total kills in a single season. Her reputation for rebuilding and elevating programs continued to grow during her tenure at Victory Christian Academy, where she successfully developed the middle school, junior varsity, and varsity volleyball programs into competitive and winning teams. Despite her success at the scholastic level, Coach Tye felt called to create opportunities that extended beyond traditional coaching. That vision led to the founding of EPIC (Evolving Players Into Champions) Athletes, a travel volleyball club dedicated to developing athletes both on and off the court. The organization later evolved into Guerreras Sports Academy, a training and recruitment company focused on helping student-athletes maximize their academic, athletic, and personal potential. In 2015, Jill Mack, Director of Impact Academy, invited Coach Tye to volunteer with a group of young athletes at Jewett Middle Academy. That same year, the program made history by defeating Lawton Chiles Middle Academy in a thrilling five-set championship match to capture the Polk County Middle School District Championship, ending Lawton Chiles’ decade-long dominance. Under Coach Tye’s leadership, Jewett remained undefeated for four consecutive seasons until competition was halted during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. During this same period, Miller also served as an assistant volleyball coach at South Florida State College before stepping away to care for her father during his declining health. Committed to lifelong learning and professional growth, Miller returned to the classroom in 2018 to complete her bachelor’s degree in Educational Studies at Warner University. She later earned a master’s degree in Education with a concentration in STEM while simultaneously working full-time and operating Guerreras Sports Academy. In May 2021, Coach Tye was named Head Volleyball Coach at Davenport High School, where she launched the school’s brand-new volleyball program. In its inaugural season, she guided the team to a remarkable 16–8 record, a district runner-up finish, and the program’s first-ever playoff appearance. The following season, Davenport once again competed for a district title and further established itself as a respected and competitive program. In 2023, Miller joined Edward Waters University as an assistant volleyball coach. During her time there, she played an instrumental role in the development and success of both the women’s and men’s volleyball programs. The women’s team captured the SIAC Eastern Division Championship and finished as SIAC Conference Runner-Up. In 2025, Coach Tye returned to Fort Valley State University as Head Women’s Volleyball Coach. In her first season leading the Wildcats, she guided the program to a dominant SIAC Eastern Division Championship, losing just one conference match to Savannah State University. Fort Valley State advanced to become SIAC Eastern Conference Champions and concluded the season as the 2025 SIAC Conference Runner-Up. For her immediate impact and exceptional leadership, Miller was named SIAC Coach of the Year in her inaugural season at the helm. Coach Tye Miller is married to her devoted husband, Corey Miller. Together, they have three children — Joshua, Alvin, and Ebony — and four grandchildren: Talen, Dakota, Genelle, and Jah’Mir (“King”). Throughout her distinguished career, Coach Tye has become known not only for building championship-caliber volleyball programs, but also for developing disciplined, resilient, and empowered young women. Her passion for mentorship, education, and athletic excellence continues to inspire and shape the next generation of student-athletes both on and off the court.

Tyrece “Coach Rece” Battle joins the Fort Valley State University women’s volleyball staff with a background built on winning, discipline, and championship expectations. A former NFL player, professional arena football player, and three-sport collegiate athlete in football, basketball, and volleyball, Battle brings a unique perspective to the women’s volleyball program. His athletic career includes multiple state and national championships, giving him firsthand experience in what it takes to prepare, compete, and win at the highest levels. Battle is a product of Valdosta High School, one of the most legendary athletic programs in America and recognized as the most winning high school football program in the nation. Raised in the Valdosta tradition, Battle learned early that championship culture is built long before game day. It is built through accountability, toughness, preparation, pride, and an expectation to compete at a standard greater than the opponent. That background is central to what Battle brings to Fort Valley State. His goal is not only to coach volleyball, but to help build a championship mindset at “The Valley” — one rooted in confidence, discipline, player development, and the belief that Fort Valley State can compete for championships. As a first-year college coach, Battle helped lead Tuskegee University women’s volleyball to its first winning record in a decade, showing his ability to make an immediate impact on program culture and competitive success. He has also earned national recognition as a multi-award-winning coach, including honors as a 2025 AVCA Thirty Under Thirty selection, 2024 AVCA Diversity Award recipient, AVCA Convention Diversity Scholarship recipient, and AVCA Club Coach of the Year nominee. At FVSU, Battle assists with recruiting, player development, practice planning, scouting, and culture building. His professional playing background, championship résumé, and passion for developing athletes make him a valuable addition to the Wildcats’ volleyball program.