STAFF

FELICIA TURNER | HEAD COACH

UNC Greensboro (UNCG) Athletics announced on December 21, 2022 that Felicia Turner has been named volleyball head coach. Turner has spent the past six years with the Georgia Bulldogs, serving three of those years as associate head coach.

“We are very excited to welcome Felicia and her family to Greensboro and the Spartan Nation,” said Director of Athletics Brian Mackin. “Felicia is widely recognized as one of the top young coaches in the nation, and we believe her knowledge of the game, her skillful approach to coaching, and her ability to connect with both our current and prospective players on the recruiting trail will have an immediate impact in elevating the success of this program.”

Turner wrapped up her sixth season on the Georgia volleyball coaching staff in 2022, where the Bulldogs finished 23-8 overall and 13-5 in the SEC. This was the third season in her tenure that Georgia totaled 20 or more wins. The Bulldogs earned their 11th ticket to the NCAA Tournament in program history after receiving an at-large bid. The bid was the second time under 2022 SEC Coach of the Year, Tom Black.

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Turner was promoted to associate head coach before the 2020 season after spending the previous three seasons as an assistant on Tom Black’s staff.

“I am honored and beyond excited to be named UNCG's Volleyball Head Coach,” said Turner. “It is apparent that UNCG takes great pride in the involvement of our community, developing the whole student-athlete, and creating a competitive environment. I will work tirelessly to ensure our continued success in those areas. I want to thank Director of Athletics Brian Mackin, Senior Associate AD for Internal Operations Jennifer Aguilar, and the rest of the interview committee for this opportunity. I am excited to meet and build relationships with these young Spartan women and create a legacy here at UNCG. Go Spartans!”

Success With Georgia Bulldogs
While Turner was a member of the Georgia staff, the Bulldogs averaged 13.0 kills per set in the six years.

During the 2022 season, the Bulldogs were ranked in the top 50 in the nation in five categories: 11th in total blocks (317.0), 16th in service aces (212), 19th in blocks per set (2.64), 34th in aces per set (1.77), and 38th in win-loss percentage (0.742).

In 2019, Turner helped guide the Bulldogs to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2013, taking on Cal Poly at No. 3 Stanford. The Georgia hitters recorded a .232 hitting clip in 2019 while finishing third in the SEC with 13.83 kills per set. SEC Freshman of the Year Kacie Evans finished ninth in the league with 3.63 kills per set and 4.03 points per set.

During her second season mentoring the Bulldogs, Georgia ranked fifth in the conference with 13.17 kills per set.

Turner helped guide Georgia to its best season since 2013 during the coaching staff’s first season. In 2017, the squad completed the season with a 22-12 overall record and a fifth-place finish in SEC play with a 10-8 mark. In RPI, the Bulldogs jumped 132 places from the previous season to 57. The Bulldogs ranked second in the SEC with 13.75 kills per set average and fourth with a .243 hitting percentage.

Starting At Her Alma Mater
Turner stepped into coaching after completing a successful collegiate career at Loyola Marymount University (LMU), serving as an assistant coach for the Lions, mentoring the team to a pair of NCAA appearances, including a historic run to the Sweet 16 in 2015 after knocking off nationally-ranked Colorado State and top-10 Stanford in Palo Alto. Along with the postseason action, Turner helped LMU to two 20-win seasons. The 24 wins LMU recorded in 2015 were the most for the program since collecting 26 in 2003.

In 2015, LMU also finished third in the West Coast Conference, another best for the team since 2003. Under Turner’s guidance, LMU had four AVCA All-America selections, six AVCA All-Region picks, an AVCA Region Freshman of the Year, and 11 All-Conference honorees, along with the Defensive Player of the Year in 2016.

Turner has quickly proven herself as one of the top young coaches, as she was named to the 2016 AVCA Thirty Under 30 Awards list.

Turner has learned from some of the best coaches in the nation, spending her summers as an intern with the USA Women’s National Team alongside Tom Black, who was an assistant with Team USA. In addition, she also served as an instructor at a pair of Gold Medal Squared volleyball camps during the summer of 2014.

Over five years as a Lion player, including a 2011 season in which she missed the entire year due to off-season surgery but was still a captain and leader from the sidelines, Turner amassed 752 kills to rank 22nd in LMU history. Completing her playing career in 2013 before graduating in 2014 with a degree in pre-physical/occupational therapy, Turner also posted 882 digs, averaging 2.34 per set.

The Laguna Niguel, California, native was an integral player in building the LMU sand volleyball program, earning a spot in the 2013 AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball National Championships pairs bracket. Turner also coached the beach volleyball team, as the squad entered the 2015 season ranked No. 5 in the nation.

What they are saying:

Tom Black, Georgia Head Coach
“Huge congrats to UNCG and Felicia. She is ready for this, and I’m thrilled for the new heights the volleyball program will accomplish under her leadership. We will miss Feli, but are supporting and rooting for her all the way. This is a great day for her, her family, and the UNCG athletics department. Congrats again!”

Randi Smart, Wake Forest Head Coach
“Felicia will be a great addition to UNC Greensboro. She was a force as a player, and has shown that same passion, learning, and fire as a coach. Her coaching experience has allowed her to set a high standard, ignite growth, and shape players on and off the court. This enthusiasm, excitement and drive will help her for this challenge ahead. Congrats UNCG. You are getting a good one!”

Julie Darty Dennis, Mississippi State Head Coach
“I am so excited for the UNCG program as they have made a fantastic choice in Felicia Turner to lead their Spartan volleyball program. Felicia has always been someone I have respected from across the net, as I have coached against her for several seasons. She has a knowledge of the game and ability to develop players that is special. Felicia has a way of connecting and getting the very best out of all of her players. She is a great communicator, she’s bright, energetic and driven - ready to lead! I could not be more excited for Felicia and her family as she shifts into the new and exciting role of head coach.”

TRENT DUNAHOO | ASSISTANT COACH

Trent Dunahoo was named the Spartan's assistant coach in January 2023.

Dunahoo comes to UNCG after a year as the assistant beach volleyball coach for the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB). He coached UAB's 1's pair to the first-ever All-Conference first team selection in program history and the 2's pair to first team All-Tournament at the 2022 C-USA Championship. He also was nominated for AVCA National Assistant Coach of the Year.

In 2020, Dunahoo volunteered with the Women's Canadian National Volleyball Team.

JUSTIN PAGGAO | ASSISTANT COACH

Paggao comes to UNCG after serving as the director of volleyball operations at Wake Forest for the past two seasons.

During his time with the Demon Deacons, he directed all aspects of daily program operations and away travel coordination. In addition, Paggao analyzed daily statistics and film, assisted with opponent scouting breakdown, and on-court training with the team. He also assisted in on-campus recruiting visits and organized summer camps. While at Wake Forest, Paggao saw the team earn back-to-back USMC/AVCA Team Academic Awards, and assisted in coaching the 2022 ACC Freshman of the Year.

Prior to his stint in Winston-Salem, Paggao served as the varsity head coach at Northern Guilford High School for the 2019-20 season. Outside of typical in-season and offseason duties at Northern Guilford, he organized summer camp programs for youth and high school athletes, while also fundraising for the school’s athletic department and volleyball program.

The Lombard, Illinois native, served as the associate club director at Piedmont Volleyball Club in Greensboro for four years. He led training sessions and practices at the club and helped recruit, train, and supervise the coaching and weight training staff of over 35 individuals. Paggao coordinated numerous tryouts and camps in his days with Piedmont VBC. In 2018, he was honored as a recipient of the American Volleyball Coaches Association Diversity Award for his efforts.

Paggao holds ample experience in university involvement, having worked as the assistant director of student involvement at Elon University during the 2017-18 school year. In the two years prior, Paggao held a similar position as a graduate assistant at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Paggao graduated from Illinois State University in December 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with a Minor in Information Systems, before going on to obtain a Master of Education in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Marquette in May 2017.