Caitlin Bullock enters her third season as the Head Women's Volleyball Coach at Lees-McRae and first season as the Head Men's Volleyball Coach after being formally hired on April 30, 2020.
Bullock, who is the 13th Head Coach in the history of Lees-McRae women’s volleyball, led the Bobcats to a five-win improvement overall, while boosting their win total in Conference Carolinas by seven victories. Under Bullock's tutelage, Lees-McRae was particulary difficult to beat at Williams Gymnasium as it posted an 8-1 record on its home floor. The Bobcats, who finished the season 12-15, qualified for the league tournament for the second consecutive season where they fell to Belmont Abbey in the opening round. Following the 2019 campaign, Caitlyn Smirne was named to the All-Conference Carolinas Third Team. It marked the first All-Conference Carolinas player for the Bobcats since 2015.
In addition to her work with the women's volleyball team, Bullock took the reigns of the school's men's volleyball program midway through the season. The improvement in the team was evident after Bullock was named interim head coach as after starting the year with a 0-9 record, the Bobcats won three of the seven matches that she led the team in. On April 30, 2020, Bullock had the interim tag removed and was named the program's full-time Head Coach.
During her first season as Lees-McRae's Head Coach in 2018, Caitlin Bullock led LMC to improvement across nearly every statistical category. The Bobcats finished 2018 with a record of 7-23 overall and 3-11 in conference play. Bullock's first season as head coach was highlighted by three LMC players being named Academic All-Conference and the team qualifying for the Conference Carolinas Women's Volleyball Tournament after a one year absence.
“We are excited to have Caitlin join us,” said McPhail. “Our process all along was to identify someone who was ready to lead our program, with an understanding of what it takes to be successful and a willingness to develop our young women to be the best in and out of the classroom.”
Prior to joining the Bobcats in 2018, Bullock spent three seasons as an assistant coach at King University where she helped coached a total of 10 All-Conference Carolinas players during her tenure. Among her top accomplishments with King was helping coach the Tornado to a berth in the 2018 NCAA Division I Men’s Volleyball Championship.
"I am honored to be named the new Head Women’s Volleyball Coach at the Lees McRae College,” said Bullock. “I could not be more excited for this opportunity. I look forward to build on the foundation of success and look forward to the talented group of ladies I have returning in the fall! Thank you to Craig McPhail for the wonderful opportunity to lead this program. He has expressed his support and desire to return Lees McRae volleyball to prominence.”
Prior to her start as a coach, Bullock was a three-time All-Conference Carolinas performer at Erskine College. During her time as a member of the Flying Fleet, Bullock became the school’s all-time leader in kills, was a 2014 AVCA All-American Honorable Mention selection and a six-time Conference Carolinas Player of the Week.
