Kellan Hollingsworth will be entering his third season as head coach with the Hawks Volleyball Program.
During the 2025 season, Hollingsworth led the Hawks to three more conference wins and two more overall wins than the previous season, with four victories coming at home. As the program continued to grow under his leadership, Hollingsworth remained committed to building the roster and establishing a strong foundation for the future of Chowan volleyball. Senior Diana Rodriguez became Chowan’s all-time digs leader after recording her 1,838th career dig in a 3-0 home victory over UNC Pembroke. At the conclusion of the season, the Tijuana, Mexico native was named Conference Carolinas Defensive Player of the Year. Off the court, the Hawks earned the highest GPA among all Chowan women’s teams, finishing with a combined 3.52 team GPA. Serving as a testament to the culture and performance standards Hollingsworth has worked to continue to grow.
In his first season at the helm in 2024, Hollingsworth guided the Hawks to a 4-21 overall record and a 2-16 mark in Conference Carolinas play. He collected his first career win as head coach early in the season with a 3-1 home victory over ECSU. Senior Sydney Ginaitt earned recognition for reaching 1,000 career assists and went on to total 425 assists during the season. Diana Rodriguez also continued to climb the program record books, finishing the year with 1,395 career digs after recording 419 during the season. Seven players earned Conference Carolinas Fall Academic All-Conference honors, while 16 student-athletes were named to the Conference Carolinas Presidential Spring Honor Roll. The Hawks also finished the 2024-25 school year with a 3.608 team GPA, the highest among all Chowan athletic programs.
Hollingsworth was announced as head coach in July of 2024. A seasoned coach and former collegiate athlete, he brought a wealth of experience and a dynamic coaching approach to Chowan’s volleyball program.
A native of Virginia Beach, Hollingsworth’s volleyball journey began at the University of Mount Olive, where he excelled both as a player and a student. Earning a degree in Business with a minor in Graphic Design, he spent four years on the court, showcasing his versatility by playing three seasons as a right side hitter and one season as a libero.
Hollingsworth’s coaching career is as impressive as his playing days. From 2019 to 2022, he served as the Head Coach for the Coastal Virginia Volleyball Club, where he led the 16 Travel Team, 17 Travel Team, and 17 National Team to success.Â
In July 2022, Hollingsworth took on a new challenge as the Head Coach of the National Team at Tidewater Volleyball Association, where he was also the Club Administrator and Head Coach for Club 757. During the 2022-23 season, he coached the 16 National Team, further establishing his reputation as a top-tier coach at the club level. He was also the head coach of a National team during the 2023-24 season.
Most recently, Hollingsworth served as the assistant volleyball coach at Hampton University from August 2023 to February 2024, before stepping into the role of acting head coach starting December 1, 2023. While at Hampton, Hollingsworth assisted in running team and individual training sessions, budget and travel planning,scouting, and player development sessions.Â
Hollingsworth is a great addition to Chowan University because of his broad coaching and playing experience as well as his dedication to player development. It is anticipated that his unique coaching style and passion for the game will take the Hawks volleyball team to new levels of excellence.
