Wake Forest Athletics
Hong Announced as Newest Member of Wake Volleyball Coaching Staff
1/27/2020 3:02:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest volleyball head coach Randi Smart has announced the hiring of Jake Hong as assistant coach.
Hong joins the Demon Deacons after serving as an assistant at Grand Canyon University and has over 10 years of coaching experience, including collegiate stops at West Virginia, High Point, UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly.
"Jake is an outstanding coach and an absolute professional. He has such a long track record of recruiting and developing players at the collegiate level an I am thrilled to have him join the Wake Forest family. I've known Jake a long time and I'm so happy to have him on my team," head coach Randi Smart said.
During his time at GCU (2018-2019), Hong helped the Lopes to a 24-6 record and a 13-3 second place finish in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), and aided in the development of a team that had three All-WAC honorees and the WAC Freshman of the Year Klaire Mitchell.
While at WVU (2017-2018), Hong helped West Virginia collected 21 wins in a single-season for the first time since 1991 and advanced to the postseason for the second time in program history, reaching the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) Semifinals.
Hong went to West Virginia after spending four seasons at High Point (2013-16), aiding the Panthers to a 73-51 overall record, including back-to-back 20-win seasons in his last two years. He also helped HPU to its second-ever Big South Conference Championship, locking up a spot in the 2016 NCAA Tournament in his final season as a Panther. Hong coached 12 All-Big South performers, including the 2013 and 2015 Big South Freshman of the Year honorees. He also produced one Big South Scholar Athlete of the Year award winner during his tenure. Serving as the recruiting coordinator, he helped HPU land one of the top-50 2015 classes in the country according to PrepVolleyball.com.
Prior to his four-year stint at High Point, Hong coached at the Santa Barbara Volleyball Club since 2004 and served as the director from 2010-13. He coached 30 players who went on to earn Division I scholarships, including Stanford All-American Carly Wopat. As head coach, Hong won four USA Junior National Medals and coached nine USA Junior National All-Tournament players.
Hong also volunteered for two seasons at UC Santa Barbara (2004-05), helping the Gauchos to back-to-back trips to the NCAA Tournament. Of note, the Gauchos advanced to the second round of the 2004 NCAA Tournament. He also assisted in coaching two All-Americans, Kristin Nelson and Janine Sandell, while at Santa Barbara.
Additionally, Hong spent two seasons as a volunteer at Cal Poly, where he coached five All-Big West players and helped the team reach the first round of the 2002 NCAA Tournament. While with the Mustangs, he also coached the women's club volleyball team.
A native of San Jose, California, Hong earned his bachelor's degree in special programs with a concentration in humanities from UNC Greensboro.
Hong joins the Demon Deacons after serving as an assistant at Grand Canyon University and has over 10 years of coaching experience, including collegiate stops at West Virginia, High Point, UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly.
"Jake is an outstanding coach and an absolute professional. He has such a long track record of recruiting and developing players at the collegiate level an I am thrilled to have him join the Wake Forest family. I've known Jake a long time and I'm so happy to have him on my team," head coach Randi Smart said.
During his time at GCU (2018-2019), Hong helped the Lopes to a 24-6 record and a 13-3 second place finish in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), and aided in the development of a team that had three All-WAC honorees and the WAC Freshman of the Year Klaire Mitchell.
While at WVU (2017-2018), Hong helped West Virginia collected 21 wins in a single-season for the first time since 1991 and advanced to the postseason for the second time in program history, reaching the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) Semifinals.
Hong went to West Virginia after spending four seasons at High Point (2013-16), aiding the Panthers to a 73-51 overall record, including back-to-back 20-win seasons in his last two years. He also helped HPU to its second-ever Big South Conference Championship, locking up a spot in the 2016 NCAA Tournament in his final season as a Panther. Hong coached 12 All-Big South performers, including the 2013 and 2015 Big South Freshman of the Year honorees. He also produced one Big South Scholar Athlete of the Year award winner during his tenure. Serving as the recruiting coordinator, he helped HPU land one of the top-50 2015 classes in the country according to PrepVolleyball.com.
Prior to his four-year stint at High Point, Hong coached at the Santa Barbara Volleyball Club since 2004 and served as the director from 2010-13. He coached 30 players who went on to earn Division I scholarships, including Stanford All-American Carly Wopat. As head coach, Hong won four USA Junior National Medals and coached nine USA Junior National All-Tournament players.
Hong also volunteered for two seasons at UC Santa Barbara (2004-05), helping the Gauchos to back-to-back trips to the NCAA Tournament. Of note, the Gauchos advanced to the second round of the 2004 NCAA Tournament. He also assisted in coaching two All-Americans, Kristin Nelson and Janine Sandell, while at Santa Barbara.
Additionally, Hong spent two seasons as a volunteer at Cal Poly, where he coached five All-Big West players and helped the team reach the first round of the 2002 NCAA Tournament. While with the Mustangs, he also coached the women's club volleyball team.
A native of San Jose, California, Hong earned his bachelor's degree in special programs with a concentration in humanities from UNC Greensboro.
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