Chad Sutton stepped down as Mercer’s volleyball head coach to accept the same position at Appalachian State University on April 11 after leading the program to its first-ever outright regular season championship. The Mountaineers compete in the Sun Belt Conference.
"The Mercer Athletics family wishes Chad, Valerie and their newborn son, Brody, all the best on their next journey," Mercer Director of Athletics Jim Cole said. "We look forward to finding the next leader that will only continue to build upon the foundation that the Suttons have left here."
Sutton was named the 13th head coach of the program on April 6, 2023. After his first year, he held the best record for a first-year head coach at Mercer since 1996, and in two seasons with the Bears, Sutton tallied a 38-19 record. This includes a record-breaking 2024 season with 26 wins and a 14-2 record in the Southern Conference.
He also led Mercer to its first postseason appearance in the National Invitational Volleyball Championships, where the Bears fell to the University of Connecticut in the first round.
Under his coaching, Mercer collected six all-conference honors. Skye Ekes ‘25 was awarded with an all-region and all-America selection by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. She was also named as the 2024 SoCon Player of the Year. Ekes, who played for Florida State University for four years before transferring to Mercer as a graduate student, was coached by Sutton in high school during his first stint as a head coach.
Brooke Phillips '25 was also named SoCon Setter of the Year. Mercer led the year with seven postseason all-conference or all-freshman selections under Sutton.
"I am eternally grateful for President Underwood and Jim Cole believing in my talent and leadership and trusting me to build something special at Mercer," Sutton told Mercer Athletics. "I am excited for the new opportunity, but also anxious to see this program continue to accomplish great things in the future."
The next volleyball season will start in late August, but the official schedule has not yet been announced by Mercer Athletics.
Pariss Nicholson ‘26 is majoring in Journalism and minoring in Media Studies at Mercer University. She hopes to report or write for ESPN after she graduates. Outside of her studies, she likes to read and watch sports games in her room.
