University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: ANTHONY SORBELLINI
Volleyball Elevates Rachel Ferguson To Associate Head Coach
September 1, 2026 | Volleyball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Carolina volleyball head coach Mike Schall has elevated Rachel Ferguson to Associate Head Coach he announced Tuesday morning.
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"I'm excited to announce a well deserved promotion for Rachel Ferguson to Associate Head Coach," Schall said. "Rachel has been instrumental in identifying and recruiting student-athletes who can be successful in our program and at the University of North Carolina. Rachel has earned the respect of her coaching peers, and I appreciate her hard work and contributions in all aspects of our program. She advocates for our student-athletes to enhance their experience in Chapel Hill."
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Ferguson arrived at Carolina in 2023 as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. She played a pivotal role in Carolina's return to national prominence, helping guide the team to back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances in 2024 and 2025.
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Ferguson arrived in Chapel Hill after four seasons at Lipscomb University in Nashville, where she spent three years as an assistant coach before being promoted to associate head coach in 2022. While with the Bisons, she helped the team to a 47-29 overall record and a 33-11 conference mark. In spring 2021, Ferguson contributed to Lipscomb's seventh ASUN title and eighth NCAA Tournament berth. She also led the effort to sign a 2020 recruiting class recognized by PrepVolleyball.com with a Highest Honorable Mention—marking it as one of the top 60 classes in the country across Division I programs.
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A recipient of the AVCA Thirty Under 30 Award in 2021, Ferguson has gained national recognition for her up-and-coming coaching talent and leadership.
Her previous coaching stops include a season at Indiana University as a volunteer assistant, a technical coordinator role with USA Volleyball's Collegiate National Team, and staff positions at Grand Canyon University, North Carolina Central, and the University of Dubuque.
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Ferguson was a four-year letter winner at Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio, where she tallied 2,551 assists as a setter. She helped lead the Student Princes to three Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) regular season titles, one OAC Tournament Championship, and four NCAA Division III Tournament appearances—compiling a 111-35 record during her collegiate career.
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"I'm excited to announce a well deserved promotion for Rachel Ferguson to Associate Head Coach," Schall said. "Rachel has been instrumental in identifying and recruiting student-athletes who can be successful in our program and at the University of North Carolina. Rachel has earned the respect of her coaching peers, and I appreciate her hard work and contributions in all aspects of our program. She advocates for our student-athletes to enhance their experience in Chapel Hill."
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Ferguson arrived at Carolina in 2023 as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. She played a pivotal role in Carolina's return to national prominence, helping guide the team to back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances in 2024 and 2025.
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Ferguson arrived in Chapel Hill after four seasons at Lipscomb University in Nashville, where she spent three years as an assistant coach before being promoted to associate head coach in 2022. While with the Bisons, she helped the team to a 47-29 overall record and a 33-11 conference mark. In spring 2021, Ferguson contributed to Lipscomb's seventh ASUN title and eighth NCAA Tournament berth. She also led the effort to sign a 2020 recruiting class recognized by PrepVolleyball.com with a Highest Honorable Mention—marking it as one of the top 60 classes in the country across Division I programs.
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A recipient of the AVCA Thirty Under 30 Award in 2021, Ferguson has gained national recognition for her up-and-coming coaching talent and leadership.
Her previous coaching stops include a season at Indiana University as a volunteer assistant, a technical coordinator role with USA Volleyball's Collegiate National Team, and staff positions at Grand Canyon University, North Carolina Central, and the University of Dubuque.
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Ferguson was a four-year letter winner at Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio, where she tallied 2,551 assists as a setter. She helped lead the Student Princes to three Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) regular season titles, one OAC Tournament Championship, and four NCAA Division III Tournament appearances—compiling a 111-35 record during her collegiate career.
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