Volleyball >> Coaching Staff

Katie O'Brien, Head Coach
Email: kobrien@piedmont.edu

Head coach Katie O'Brien is entering her seventh season at the helm of the Piedmont College volleyball program. O'Brien, who also serves as PC's Senior Women's Administrator, owns a 131-88 career record for a career winning percentage of .598.

In 2001, O'Brien led her Lady Lions to the school's first-ever Great South Athletic Conference Championship and this past season, the team earned a GSAC runner-up finish. In both of those seasons O'Brien was voted as the league's Coach of the Year.

In her tenure, O'Brien has mentored 27 Academic All-Conference honorees, 16 All-Conference selections, a pair of GSAC Freshman of the Year, one league Player of the Year, and one Tournament MVP.

Prior to her coaching career, she was a standout player at the University of Iowa. She is currently ranked 14th on the Iowa career blocks list and is 13th in career attack percentage. Additionally, O'Brien posted back-to-back top-10 finishes in the Big-10 Conference in blocks per game (97 & 98).

In August of 2001, O'Brien completed her master's degree in Public Administration from Piedmont College.

In June of 2005, O'Brien married Freddie Chapman and the two reside in Clarkesville, GA.

O'Brien's Head Coaching History

Year Record School
2006 23-12 Piedmont College
2005 20-17 Piedmont College
2004 19-20  Piedmont College
2003 26-12  Piedmont College
2002 21-15  Piedmont College
2001 27-8, GSAC Champions Piedmont College
2000 18-16  Piedmont College
Career 154-100 .606 winning percentage

Kyle Zak, Assistant Coach
Email: kzak0209@lions.piedmont.edu

Entering his first year as the assistant coach for Katie O'Brien will be Piedmont College alumnus Kyle Zak. The 1998 graduate holds a Business Administration degree and is currently pursuing his MBA while working at WSA Atlanta, Inc. as a Director of Corporate Operations.

His playing experience includes playing club volleyball at Ohio State University. Zak also continues to play at the USA volleyball level on a men's team in Atlanta. In addition to playing, he has been coaching at the juniors' level the past three years in Atlanta most recently serving as head coach with Atlanta Juniors-15 orange. Zak's team completed a successful season with two second-place finishes and participating in the National Qualifier in Dallas, TX.

Zak has also worked several clinics and has done individual coaching session for juniors players.