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High Point University athletics director Dan Hauser has named Ryan Meek as the 12th head coach in the volleyball program’s history on Monday, Jan. 29, 2018.
Meek came to the Triad after two seasons at Creighton University where he served as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator under three-time National Coach of the Year Kirsten Bernthal Booth.
Meek is High Point’s fifth head coach since the program moved to the Division I level beginning in 1999-2000.
During Meek’s tenure in Omaha, the Bluejays went 55-14 including a trip to the Elite Eight in 2016 – his first season with the program. The team dominated the Big East winning 34 of 36 matches and claiming both the regular season and tournament titles each of the past two seasons.
His first season with Creighton resulted in the program’s first trip to the Elite Eight when the squad became the first in NCAA Tournament history to win three straight five-set matches to qualify for the regional final.
“I would like to thank President Nido Qubein, Dan Hauser and the athletics staff for the opportunity to join the High Point University athletics family,” Meek said. “As this process played out it was clear that the vision for the High Point volleyball program matched my own and closely aligned with the ideal of being surrounded by high character people and players. I am confident that we can continue the ascent of High Point volleyball nationally and I am looking forward to getting in the office and in the gym and working toward that goal.”
In the midst of the Bluejays deepest NCAA Tournament run the squad took down No. 4 Kansas, which is the highest-ranked foe Creighton has ever defeated. Along with the team success, Meek guided Lydia Dimke to become the Big East Player of the Year and All-America Third Team honors. Under Meek’s tutelage, Dimke finished the 2016 campaign second in the nation in assists.
Meek arrived at Creighton after spending five seasons as head coach at Hendrix College in Conway, Ark., where he helped the Warriors to a 110-64 record.
The Warriors went 29-9 overall in 2015 as Meek was named the National Coach of the Year at the Division III level by the AVCA, after helping Hendrix to the national semifinals. He also earned Southern Athletic Association Coach of the Year honors for the second year in a row after winning back-to-back regular season and conference tournament titles. His 2015 squad finished with a No. 8 ranking in the AVCA Top 25 Division III poll. Hendrix finished second in the nation in attacks, third in digs, fifth in assists, sixth in kills and 12th in total blocks.
In 2014, the Warriors set a program record with a 31-6 record and won their first SAA regular season and tournament titles. Meek’s squad advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and finished the season with 43 votes in the AVCA Top 25 Poll. He earned SAA Coach of the Year honors for his efforts. The 2014 Hendrix team finished 10th in the nation in kills, 14th in hitting percentage, 16th in blocks and 17th in assists per set.
In 2013, Meek guided the Warriors to their first winning season with a 20-12 record. Hendrix also finished tied for third place in the league and advanced to the SAA Conference Tournament finals.
In his time at Hendrix, Meek coached one AVCA All-America Honorable Mention, two SAA Newcomers of the Year, nine First Team all-conference selections, six Second Teamers and four Honorable Mention women.
Prior to joining the Warrior staff, Meek spent two seasons at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin. He was the top assistant for the Lions and was named interim head coach in February 2011. While at MSSU, Meek helped the Lions to their first regional ranking since 2006 and he coached four All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association players.
Meek served as a volunteer assistant for the University of Arkansas from January 2007-July 2008 where he coached one All-Southeastern Conference selection and an All-SEC Freshman Team performer.
From 2004-06, Meek was the head girls varsity coach and assistant boys coach for Simi Valley High School in California. He led the SVHS girls to three consecutive top five regional rankings and the state playoffs for the first time in school history. The boy’s squad received a national ranking and Meek coached 10 future collegiate players.
Meek was the starting setter for Quincy University in 2003, where he led the Hawks in assists and finished third in the league in assists per set. In 2002, Meek led Moorpark College and the state of California in assists, setting Moorpark’s single-season assists record.
Meek was a three-year letterman at opposite and outside hitter at Simi Valley High School. He led the team in kills and digs for two seasons and helped SVHS to a top 10 national ranking as a senior in 2000.
He earned his B.A. in Public Administration from the University of Arkansas in 2008 and comes to High Point with his wife, Heather.