Johnson & Wales - Charlotte Women's Volleyball

Coach Callie Phillips brings twenty years of coaching experience to the Johnson & Wales volleyball program. She considers it an honor and a privilege to be the programs first and only head coach and works hard to maintain a program that reflects the school's values and makes its faculty, staff, community, and students proud. Coach Phillips played her high school ball at West Davidson High School in Lexington, NC where she earned three all-conference selections her sophomore, junior, and senior seasons and was named Conference Player of the Year in her final season. She was a part of three thrilling state playoff runs with the Green Dragons and helped establish a tradition of excellence in volleyball at West Davidson High School. Due to health concerns, her playing days were cut short after high school, but she continued to be active with various clubs and teams as she completed her college coursework. Upon graduation from Appalachian State University in 2000, Coach Phillips returned to her alma mater high school as a varsity assistant. The next year, she continued as a varsity assistant and took over the junior varsity team, leading it to conference championships in 2001 and 2002 and a 20-win season in 2002. In 2003, she moved on to Jay M. Robinson High School in Concord, NC where the school was in its third season. As head coach, she worked to establish a competitive program there from 2003-2008 that was highlighted by a 2005 team that won the conference regular season and tournament titles. This team also claimed the district title and finished as the regional runner-up. Coach Phillips compiled a record of 88-44 while at Jay M. Robinson and was awarded the Conference Coach of the Year award in 2005. Several of her players continued their athletic careers in college. The Johnson & Wales program enters its twelfth season in 2022 as a national contender in the USCAA.  The Wildcats were the USCAA Division II National Champion Runner-Up in 2019 after claiming the title in 2018.  The program has five national championship berths in 2012, 2013, 2017, 2018, and 2019, and the team looks to build on last season with ten returning players on the roster.  Coach Phillips's teams at JWU have led the nation in USCAA Volleyball Academic All-American Award recipients multiple times, and the program has over 30 award winners. She has also had 19 players receive Volleyball All-American honors over that span. A 2011 recipient of the UCB Rheumatoid Arthritis Scholarship, Coach Phillips completed her Master's Degree in Sports Administration with a concentration in academic advising from Wingate University in 2013. She received her Doctorate of Education (Ed.D) in Kinesiology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2019 and is an adjunct professor in the Hospitality College at Johnson & Wales.  She serves on various committees at the university and national levels and is the chair of the USCAA Volleyball Coaches Committee.    Coach Phillips believes in hard work, determination, intelligence on the court, and teamwork. Her team supports these values as they strive to make a difference in the classroom, on campus, and in the community. She completed her high school teaching career as a special education lead teacher for Cabarrus County Schools before joining JWU in a full-time capacity in July 2014. She is a North Carolina native and lives in Kannapolis, NC with her wife, Shelly.

Nia Richardson is entering her second season as a coach at Johnson & Wales University Charlotte and brings four years of collegiate coaching experience to the court. A 2022 graduate of Fayetteville State University, Nia also coaches at Carolina Juniors Volleyball Club in Charlotte. Her passion for developing athletes both on and off the court is at the heart of her coaching philosophy.