Jennifer Charles joined the Lady Eagles volleyball program as assistant coach in April of 2015 after spending the prior two seasons as a volunteer assistant coach at the University of North Carolina. Charles was elevated to interim head coach on Jan. 4, 2016, when Nicki Holmes resigned as head coach to accept another coaching job.
In her leadership role with the Tar Heels, Charles was part of a volleyball program that has been nationally ranked as high as seventh, won the ACC championship title, advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Volleyball Tournament and posted a combined 54-10 record.
UNC attained a series of program bests with Charles as a staff member in 2014. The Tar Heels reached an RPI of No. 5, an AVCA Coaches Poll ranking of No. 7 and highest NCAA tournament seed at No. 7.
Charles was utilized in working with UNC’s front row defense helping train two of the ACC’s top-3 blockers including one that ranked in the top-10 nationally as the Tar Heels ranked No. 2 in DI in blocks per set. Her expertise extends past blocking including live in-game scouting and academic guidance responsibilities at UNC.
Prior to her time in Chapel Hill, Charles served as the first assistant coach at Kennesaw State University. Coach Charles worked with the Owls middle blockers and offensive strategies and breaking down film.
Charles also spent one year as assistant coach at both Midland College and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her volleyball involvement during her time spent at both programs consisted of developing players, recruiting and involvement with local volleyball club teams.
Charles is a 2007 graduate of Georgia Southern University. She was a four-year letter winner on the Eagles volleyball team. Charles, who finished her collegiate career as the top blocker in GSU history with 462 total blocks, was a team captain, a pre-season All-Conference honoree, team defensive player of the year and a member of a Southern Conference championship squad in her rookie season of 2003.
Charles was a two-sport athlete for the Eagles having competed as a thrower for the GSU track and field team for two seasons. She was part of Southern Conference championship track and field squad and was the league’s individual shot put champion one season. Charles earned all-conference accolades in track and field and was a regional qualifier in the shot put.
The sports management major and business minor graduated from GSU with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in 2007 and went on to obtain her Master’s in Sports Administration from California University of Pennsylvania in 2013. Her academic achievements also included being a Scholar Athletic Award winner and a member of the GSU Presidential Honor Roll.
Charles, who resides in Durham, is a member of the AVCA and AVAC Minority Coaches and is a Minority Coaches Award recipient.
