North Carolina State University Athletics
Bryan Bunn Named NC State Volleyball Coach
2/19/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
RALEIGH, N.C. - NC State Director of Athletics Lee Fowler announced today the hiring of Bryan Bunn as head volleyball coach. Bunn brings 20 seasons of coaching experience at the collegiate level to the Wolfpack, including 13 years as a head coach with a 351-122 (.742) record. As a head coach, Bunn has coached 18 All-Americans, 37 all-conference players, 32 all-region performers and five conference player of the year recipients. Eleven of his teams have won 23 or more matches, with four squads finishing in the top 10 nationally.
“I’m looking forward to working at NC State,” said Bunn. “I thank Lee Fowler and [Associate Athletics Director / Senior Woman Administrator] Michelle Lee for giving me the opportunity to get this program headed in the right direction. Baylor was a great place but I think NC State is the place for me and my wife, and I’m looking forward to getting this program going.”
"We are very excited to bring in a coach of Bryan Bunn's caliber," said Fowler. "He is universally liked and respected by his colleagues in the volleyball community, and he has a history of tremendous success and achievement. I look forward to watching him guide us in a new direction."
“We are really excited about the addition of Bryan Bunn to the NC State family,” said Lee. “His experience and record as a head coach is exactly what we were looking for in a new head coach. He has a proven track record of improving programs and taking them to new levels of success, and we are excited about the future of NC State volleyball under his leadership.”
Bunn comes to Raleigh after three seasons as the associate head coach at Baylor, where he helped resurrect that program. During his tenure, the Bears posted a 56-40 record while showing significant improvement each season, culminating with Baylor’s first ever appearance in the NCAA Sweet 16. The 2009 campaign saw the Bears reach the postseason for the first time in nine years, spend 11 weeks in the AVCA Top 25 poll and achieve a No. 17 national ranking. Baylor reached the NCAA Sweet 16 after upsetting heavily favored UCLA on its own court in Los Angeles.
Prior to his stint at Baylor, Bunn spent seven season as the head coach at North Florida, posting a 180-56 (.798) record. He led the Lady Ospreys to five consecutive Peach Belt Conference crowns and NCAA Division II Tournament appearances from 2000-04, collecting conference coach of the year honors in both 2000 and 2002. North Florida won its final 60 conference matches as a member of the Peach Belt under Bunn’s leadership.
In 2005 and 2006 he led the charge as UNF elevated into Division I status, guiding the program to respective 19-10 and 18-15 seasons and back-to-back top-three finishes in the Atlantic Sun Conference before joining the staff at Baylor. He departed North Florida as the winningest volleyball coach in school history, and with the best winning percentage of any head coach in all sports in UNF history.
Bunn coached the volleyball team and served as a faculty member at Texas Lutheran from 1994-99, posting a 171-66 (.722) record in six seasons. Under his watch, the Bulldogs won two conference titles, made two appearances in the NAIA national tournament and advanced to regionals on six occasions. He spent two seasons as an assistant coach on the staff at TLU before taking over as head coach.
Bunn’s coaching career began with a two year tour as an assistant at Stephen F. Austin from 1990-91. He graduated from Texas - San Antonio in 1988 with a bachelor of arts degree in kinesiology and English, later earning a master’s of education from Stephen F. Austin in 1992.
Bunn and his wife, the former Jen Wismann, reside in Raleigh.
What They’re Saying About Coach Bunn
“NC State made a great hire because they are going to get a coach that treats players the right way and teaches them how to win. It’s really simple. He’s a proven coach and he’s someone that came in and helped my program advance and move forward, and it’s because of his knowledge of the game and the way he treats people.” - Jim Barnes, Baylor Head Coach
“North Carolina State is lucky to get Bryan Bunn. Not only is he a great coach, he is also a great person. That team will improve rapidly, and the players will enjoy the journey. I am thrilled he got the job, and the Wolfpack can look forward to steady improvement under his experienced and intelligent approach.” - Dave Nichols, Florida Gulf Coast Head Coach
“Bryan is one of the most passionate and knowledgeable coaches in the game. He has been around a high level of volleyball for a long time both as a player and a coach. He understands competitive athletes and can relate well to them, and he is undoubtedly going to take NC State volleyball to new heights under his direction.” - Genny Volpe, Rice Head Coach
Bunn Coaching History
2010 - present Head Coach NC State
2007 - 09 Associate Head Coach Baylor
2000 - 06 Head Coach North Florida
1994 - 99 Head Coach Texas Lutheran
1992 - 93 Assistant Coach Texas Lutheran
1990 - 91 Assistant Coach Stephen F. Austin
“I’m looking forward to working at NC State,” said Bunn. “I thank Lee Fowler and [Associate Athletics Director / Senior Woman Administrator] Michelle Lee for giving me the opportunity to get this program headed in the right direction. Baylor was a great place but I think NC State is the place for me and my wife, and I’m looking forward to getting this program going.”
"We are very excited to bring in a coach of Bryan Bunn's caliber," said Fowler. "He is universally liked and respected by his colleagues in the volleyball community, and he has a history of tremendous success and achievement. I look forward to watching him guide us in a new direction."
“We are really excited about the addition of Bryan Bunn to the NC State family,” said Lee. “His experience and record as a head coach is exactly what we were looking for in a new head coach. He has a proven track record of improving programs and taking them to new levels of success, and we are excited about the future of NC State volleyball under his leadership.”
Bunn comes to Raleigh after three seasons as the associate head coach at Baylor, where he helped resurrect that program. During his tenure, the Bears posted a 56-40 record while showing significant improvement each season, culminating with Baylor’s first ever appearance in the NCAA Sweet 16. The 2009 campaign saw the Bears reach the postseason for the first time in nine years, spend 11 weeks in the AVCA Top 25 poll and achieve a No. 17 national ranking. Baylor reached the NCAA Sweet 16 after upsetting heavily favored UCLA on its own court in Los Angeles.
Prior to his stint at Baylor, Bunn spent seven season as the head coach at North Florida, posting a 180-56 (.798) record. He led the Lady Ospreys to five consecutive Peach Belt Conference crowns and NCAA Division II Tournament appearances from 2000-04, collecting conference coach of the year honors in both 2000 and 2002. North Florida won its final 60 conference matches as a member of the Peach Belt under Bunn’s leadership.
In 2005 and 2006 he led the charge as UNF elevated into Division I status, guiding the program to respective 19-10 and 18-15 seasons and back-to-back top-three finishes in the Atlantic Sun Conference before joining the staff at Baylor. He departed North Florida as the winningest volleyball coach in school history, and with the best winning percentage of any head coach in all sports in UNF history.
Bunn coached the volleyball team and served as a faculty member at Texas Lutheran from 1994-99, posting a 171-66 (.722) record in six seasons. Under his watch, the Bulldogs won two conference titles, made two appearances in the NAIA national tournament and advanced to regionals on six occasions. He spent two seasons as an assistant coach on the staff at TLU before taking over as head coach.
Bunn’s coaching career began with a two year tour as an assistant at Stephen F. Austin from 1990-91. He graduated from Texas - San Antonio in 1988 with a bachelor of arts degree in kinesiology and English, later earning a master’s of education from Stephen F. Austin in 1992.
Bunn and his wife, the former Jen Wismann, reside in Raleigh.
What They’re Saying About Coach Bunn
“NC State made a great hire because they are going to get a coach that treats players the right way and teaches them how to win. It’s really simple. He’s a proven coach and he’s someone that came in and helped my program advance and move forward, and it’s because of his knowledge of the game and the way he treats people.” - Jim Barnes, Baylor Head Coach
“North Carolina State is lucky to get Bryan Bunn. Not only is he a great coach, he is also a great person. That team will improve rapidly, and the players will enjoy the journey. I am thrilled he got the job, and the Wolfpack can look forward to steady improvement under his experienced and intelligent approach.” - Dave Nichols, Florida Gulf Coast Head Coach
“Bryan is one of the most passionate and knowledgeable coaches in the game. He has been around a high level of volleyball for a long time both as a player and a coach. He understands competitive athletes and can relate well to them, and he is undoubtedly going to take NC State volleyball to new heights under his direction.” - Genny Volpe, Rice Head Coach
Bunn Coaching History
2010 - present Head Coach NC State
2007 - 09 Associate Head Coach Baylor
2000 - 06 Head Coach North Florida
1994 - 99 Head Coach Texas Lutheran
1992 - 93 Assistant Coach Texas Lutheran
1990 - 91 Assistant Coach Stephen F. Austin
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