Father Ryan volleyball coach Ann Mullins
Ann Mullins has been named the new volleyball coach at Father Ryan High School.
Mullins, who resigned last week as volleyball coach at fellow Division II-AA East/Middle Region school Ensworth, replaces her former high school coach Jinx Cockerham, a 46-year coaching veteran and five-time Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association state champion who announced her retirement last November.
“It’s very humbling” Mullins said. “I am completely excited and also humbled at the same time. I’m over-the-moon that they felt I was ready to take on this position and I’m excited to follow up coach Cockerham. I think that she has paved the way, not only for volleyball, but for female sports.I just hope to do just as many things in the next several years that she has done.”
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During her high school playing career, Mullins, who graduated from Father Ryan in 2003, helped lead the Lady Irish to three consecutive state semifinal berths and finished as the school’s all-time leader in digs before going on to play college volleyball at Lipscomb University.
Mullins, who serves as assistant director for Alliance Volleyball Club, also spent three seasons as volleyball coach at Siegel High School, leading the Lady Stars to consecutive Class AAA semifinal appearances in 2010 and 2011.
“I was just telling someone the other day that when I took the job at Siegel I was right out of college and I always thought that Father Ryan would be something eventually for me, but I do feel that this is the right timing,” Mullins said. “It’s always been a dream of mine to coach at my alma mater.”
Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports.