Coach Spotlight: Katelyn Totherow
Volleyball season is here and leading the women’s team this year is none other than Katelyn Totherow! She joined the Regent athletic staff as head volleyball coach in fall 2021 and is excited to continue the team’s growth.
Attending a private Christian school, Totherow started playing volleyball in seventh grade, and it was on the JV team that she fell in love with the sport. She enjoyed not only the physical activity but also the teaching aspect and was blessed with coaches who served as role models in her life. She continued to play through undergrad at Averett University, where she developed an interest in coaching. An injury her freshman year allowed her to sit on the sidelines and observe: “That’s when I really felt the urge to be in college athletics,” she recalled. After studying physical education and health for K-12, she received her master’s in university leadership from Lenoir Rhyne in 2018. During this time, she continued playing ball and coached as a GA for the team.
She held assistant coaching positions for four years after graduating before coming to Regent. During those years, Totherow worked to put her coaching philosophy into words: “I was telling people I want to create leaders that can change the world, and then I came to Regent and was so excited to discover the same ideal.” She also loved that Regent was a young program: “I saw that as a beautiful opportunity for growth and my ability to put my own stamp on a program. I think starting stuff is really exciting, and I believe in starting small.”
She wants to teach her players leadership on and off the court and desires for them to be “light and love” to others. By this, she wants her players to exemplify Christ by showing love to each other and to everyone around them. She also really just wants to be there for them: “My top priority is to help guide them to be wonderful, godly women, and they truly already are.”
This year the team is extremely young, comprised of six freshmen and one sophomore. Totherow finds this unique and exciting for the program. “They are working so hard all the time, and they’re so fun. It’s exciting to see their abilities and love for the game grow.” She encourages students to come out and support the team as they progress.
Totherow has a passion and love for growing the Regent women’s volleyball program. Her positive attitude and drive to build up her team are evident in her coaching style.