PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Kyetta May, the highly successful head women’s volleyball coach at Kentucky State University, has been selected as the new coach at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, it was announced on Monday.
According to Lonza Hardy Jr., UAPB’s athletics director, May will join his staff in Pine Bluff on May 25.
“I’m extremely delighted that we’re able to hire a head volleyball coach with such impressive credentials,” noted Hardy. “Coach May has been a winner as a college student-athlete and she’s been a winner as a college head coach. She knows how to win and what it takes to be a winner. I know that she’ll bring that mindset into our volleyball program.”
In five years as Kentucky State’s head coach, May led the volleyball program to back-to-back Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) championships in 2010 and 2011. Her teams finished in second place in 2008 and 2009. She was tabbed conference coach-of-the-year three times, in 2008, 2010 and 2011.
For five consecutive seasons, May-coached teams at Kentucky State eclipsed the 20-win plateau, including records of 23-18 (15-1 SIAC) in 2011, 26-11 (15-1 SIAC) in 2010, 26-14 (16-0 SIAC) in 2009, 29-20 (10-0 SIAC) in 2008 and 21-18 (10-0 SIAC) in 2007. Her career record at KSU stands at 125-81.
Prior to her stint at Kentucky State, May coached briefly at Harris-Stowe State University, an NAIA school in St. Louis, Mo., and at Clayton High School in Clayton, Mo.
As a college player at Alabama A&M University under legendary coach Betty Austin between 1998-2001, May helped to lead the Lady Bulldogs to a pair of SWAC championships (2000 and 2001). The Dean’s List scholar-athlete was tabbed Lady Speedstick Sportswoman-of-the-Year in 2000.
A native of East St. Louis, Ill., May said coaching at UAPB helps her to achieve one of her major dreams.
“I’ve always wanted to coach in the Southwestern Athletic Conference,” said May. “This is a great opportunity for me as a young coach.
“I’m definitely thankful and grateful for this opportunity,” added May. “This program has a lot of potential. I’m used to winning and hard work is embedded in my bones. I’ll try to instill that in the players and into the program at UAPB.”
May graduated from Alabama A&M on May 12, 2001 with cum laude honors in environmental science and a minor in chemistry. She holds a Master’s degree in education from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo.
