Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University Director of Athletics Kelley Kish has announced Lauren Tekavec as the next head volleyball coach for the Bulldogs. Tekavec has been on the Wingate coaching staff since 2019, being named the Associate Head Coach in 2021. She takes over for AVCA Hall of Fame coach Shelton Collier, who stepped down as the Wingate head coach in December of 2022.

"In Lauren we have hired a head coach with high-level Division II student-athlete experience, region and SAC coaching success," Kish says. "Lauren continually elevated her experience, passion and preparedness for this role throughout our national search process. Combine that with her coaching philosophy and style being directly impacted by our Hall of Famer Shelton Collier and her fully understanding our One Dog approach at Wingate, Lauren earned this position. The future of Wingate Volleyball remains bright with Lauren leading the program and continuing to develop our champions in the classroom, in our community and on the court as Head Coach."

"I am honored and excited to be chosen to lead the Wingate Volleyball program," Tekavec says. "I want to thank the Wingate community and especially Shelton Collier for helping me grow over the last four years and Kelley Kish for entrusting me with the opportunity to lead such a storied program. Wingate has become my home, and I am so grateful and excited to continue being a part of a special program with such special student-athletes and alumnae."

In her time at Wingate, Tekavec has helped lead the Bulldogs to an 87-13 overall record. The Bulldogs have won the regular season SAC title every year she has been on the staff, adding a SAC Tournament championship in 2022. Wingate also won the NCAA Southeast Region title in 2022, advancing to the national quarterfinal before falling in five sets to the eventual national champions.

"Lauren being selected as the next head coach is awesome for the players and for the program in so many ways," Collier says. "She certainly has a strong understanding of what it takes to have success in the conference and in the region, and has already earned the respect of the current players. Lauren has also proven she can recruit high-level talent who can win championships here. It's exciting that Lauren was promoted to be the new head coach and I will look forward to following her successes. The team has a talented and motivated group of returning and incoming players, and I will enjoy being a fan of Wingate volleyball."

Tekavec has played a key role in recruiting and defense during her time with the Bulldogs. Wingate has ranked in the top 10 nationally in opponents' hitting percentage every year she has been on staff, ranking second in 2022 while leading the nation in 2019. Tekavec played a huge role in this year's recruiting class that saw Emily Johnson become the first player in Wingate or SAC history to earn D2CCA second team All-American honors. The Region Freshman of the Year was also the only freshman to earn D2CCA All-American accolades in 2022.

Tekavec also played an important role in the development of several other Bulldogs that piled up awards in record fashion during the 2022 season, which saw the 'Dogs compile a 32-3 overall record to finish second in the nation in winning percentage. Shannon Kasprak was named the SAC and Region Player of the Year and an AVCA second team All-American, while just recently signing a pro contract in Austria, the first Bulldog to ever play professionally. Molly Lambillotte had a breakout final season at Wingate, earning third team AVCA All-American honors, while Maggie Young picked up honorable mention AVCA All-American accolades.

Prior to her arrival at Wingate, Tekavec spent one season at Regis University in Colorado as the Graduate Assistant Coach. At Regis, she managed individual player development, assisted with team training and strategy, while also assisting in recruiting, compliance and travel logistics. Tekavec was also responsible for academic support of student-athletes.

Tekavec played collegiate volleyball at Florida Southern College, where she was a four-year member of the Sunshine State Conference All-Academic Team and a three-time FSC Athletic Director's Scholar-Athlete award winner. She was also a member of Florida Southern's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Tekavec helped lead the Mocs to success in her four-year career, posting an 87-45 overall record while going 46-18 in the highly-competitive Sunshine State Conference. FSC appeared in the NCAA Tournament every year of her career, advancing to the regional semifinals all four years. The Mocs were ranked as high as 13th in the AVCA top 25 during Tekavec's senior season, finishing the year at 25-6 overall and 14-2 in SSC play.

After graduating from Florida Southern with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, majoring in Social Sciences and Secondary Education with minors in History and Religion, Tekavec was a high school volleyball head coach and teacher at Doherty High School in Colorado Springs, Colo. In addition to being the head volleyball coach, she coordinated youth programs while also teaching ninth and 10th grade history.

Tekavec also has an extensive background with volleyball club coaching. She coached at Southern Select Volleyball Club in Lakeland, Fla. from 2014 through 2015, while coaching at Colorado Juniors Volleyball Club in Monument, Colo. from 2016 through 2018. She coached at Carolina Union Volleyball Club from 2019 through 2022. Tekavec is also currently serving as the South Athletic Conference Representative to AVCA National Assistant Coaches Committee.

Tekavec will take over one of the most successful programs in college volleyball. The Bulldogs have won 16 of the last 17 regular season SAC titles, adding 13 SAC Tournament championships and six NCAA regional titles. Wingate has ranked in the top 10 in the nation in winning percentage each of the last 17 years, leading the nation four times. The 'Dogs are the only team in SAC history to earn an AVCA top 25 ranking, finishing the 2022 season at number 17. Wingate has made a league-best 18 consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament, earning hosting duties at the NCAA Southeast Regionals nine times since 2008, including twice during Tekavec's tenure.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING:

Jill Stephens | Florida Southern Associate AD / SWA (Tekavec's college coach)
"What a brilliant hire for Wingate! Lauren has always been a part of successful programs dating back to her high school and club days. She has been a sponge sitting at the feet of a brilliant volleyball mind, in Shelton Collier. Lauren will undoubtedly impact and empower the young women she coaches and I cannot wait to watch what she will do with the program as she puts her personal spin on it."

Joel List | Regis University Head Coach
"I am so proud of Lauren for being appointed as the next head coach. She has a passion for Division II Volleyball that very few possess. She has excellent perspective as a player, starting with club and proceeding all the way through her collegiate playing career. That, coupled with her coaching experiences, have set her up to continue the success that Shelton and Wingate have established. She has earned this appointment and I congratulate Wingate University on landing a great coach to guide their volleyball program into the future."

Molly Lambillotte | Former Wingate All-American Outside Hitter
"I am proud and excited for Coach Tek as she steps into her new role at Wingate. Coach Tek has been an inspiration to every athlete that has had the opportunity to be coached by her and I know she will continue to do this for every player to come. She is not only a skillful volleyball coach regarding technique and strategy, but she is one of the most committed coaches I have ever come across. She wants to develop student-athletes on and off the court which is one of her many strengths. Coach Tek also knows the Wingate culture and traditions that have led to greatness for many years. There is no doubt that Coach Tek will flourish by being the next fearless leader of the Wingate volleyball program."

Maggie Mullen | Current Wingate All-SAC Libero
"When our team found out that Coach Tek got the job as our head coach we were ecstatic. She completely earned this position and deserves it. She has impacted this program as an assistant coach and associate head coach for years, and now we can't wait for her to make her mark on this program as a head coach. Couldn't have given this job to a more deserving and wonderful human being."

WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a laboratory of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina. Wingate offers 38 undergraduate majors as well as seven master's and four doctoral degrees. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences; the Levine College of Health Sciences; the Byrum School of Business; the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences. 

Wingate is a leader in healthcare education, and nearly one in five Wingate undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 25 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award for 14 years straight. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.