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From the Quad
1/9/2025 2:39:00 PM | General, Women's Volleyball
Presented by Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist
Happy New Year Demon Deacon Nation!
As we shared in December, it has been a time of transition for Wake Forest Volleyball. Today's latest edition of From the Quad brings tremendous excitement as Jeff Hulsmeyer is joining us as our head volleyball coach! Serving as the associate head coach at Florida State for the last 10 years, Coach Hulsmeyer has helped establish the Seminoles as a perennial NCAA Tournament team, with 10-straight appearances. His deep recruiting connections and extensive coaching experience in the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big 12 and Big Ten, and most recently his role in guiding FSU to 44 combined wins in the last two seasons and the 2023 ACC Championship make him the perfect fit to lead our Demon Deacons volleyball program.
As fans who watched the NCAA Volleyball Championships last month or have packed Varsity Arena for Demon Deacon matches in recent years can attest, collegiate volleyball is experiencing unprecedented popularity.
And, over the last several years the Atlantic Coast Conference has rapidly ascended into the pole position as the best volleyball league in the country. Jeff Hulsmeyer's dedication to student-athlete development, combined with his expertise as a recruiter, tactician, and trainer, as well as his deep familiarity with the ACC, positions him perfectly to lead Wake Forest volleyball. Paired with Wake Forest's strengths—top-tier academics, elite athletic facilities, and a prime location in North Carolina—we are well-equipped to build a consistently competitive program. And, Coach Hulsmeyer is the right person to break through and lead Demon Deacon volleyball to its first-ever NCAA Tournament and beyond.
Coach Hulysmeyer met with his new team earlier today via Zoom and with them about his program philosophies and how he will help our student-athletes grow as students, community members and players. I know he's excited to see them in person as students return to campus for the commencement of spring semester classes on Monday.
I know all of Deacon Nation joins me in extending the hand of hospitality as we welcome Coach Hulsmeyer, his wife, Michelle, and their four children Zach, Ben, Hannah and Jack to Winston-Salem.
I am grateful for the leadership and hard work of Deputy AD Lindsey Babcock, Senior Associate AD Daren Koudele, Senior Associate AD Craig Zakrzewski and the contributions of many others in securing our outstanding new coach.
Through this process, Coach Hulsmeyer's acumen and deep experience in all phases rose to the top of the candidate pool. Florida State has been consistently ranked within the American Volleyball Coaches Association's Top 25 Coaches Poll. Additionally, Coach Hulsmeyer aided Florida State in the production of five seasons of 20-plus wins, along with 12 All-Americans, two ACC Player of the Year nods, an ACC Rookie of the Year and 31 All-ACC selections.
Beyond the success he has helped his players achieve on the court, Hulsmeyer has helped a plethora of student-athletes succeed in the classroom. His tenure at Florida State involved 39 All-ACC Academic Team selections. Kansas State took home the USMC/AVCA Academic Team Award in five of Hulsmeyer's six seasons with the Wildcats. In 2001, during Hulsmeyer's third year, the Purdue volleyball team claimed the President's Cup – given to the University's sports program with the highest cumulative grade-point average. The Boilermakers also boasted 19 Academic All-Big Ten picks during Hulsmeyer's four seasons.
With significant, progressive experience at all levels of college athletics, Coach Hulsmeyer is an excellent fit to lead Wake Forest at this important moment in our college volleyball program's history. Importantly, we are confident he understands our culture at Wake Forest and that he and his family will be wonderful partners for our community. In the coming weeks, he will focus intently on player retention and recruitment and building a strong staff.
Supportive and engaged fans are essential to a successful program, and Coach Hulsmeyer is looking forward to becoming engrained at Wake Forest and in Winston-Salem. When you see him around campus or in the community, be sure to say hello and tell him you'll be inside Varsity Arena in the fall for the beginning of an exciting new era of Wake Forest Volleyball! In the meantime, if you want to send him a note and welcome him to Wake Forest - send him an email at vbcoach@wfu.edu!
With many other exciting news and notes around Wake Forest, let's jump into the rest of the updates!
Welcome to Wake Forest, New Football Staff & Players!
Following our introduction of Coach Jake Dickert back in mid-December, he and his new staff have been hard at work recruiting 28 incoming transfer student-athletes including 19 transfers and nine incoming freshmen who will join our program for the 2025 season. Those talented young men join our returning athletes including the likes of star tailback Demond Claiborne, standout defensive back Davaughn Patterson and 2024 captain Nick Andersen.
Although he's been regularly engaged with both our returning and new players since December 18, I know Coach Dickert is fired up for our first team meeting on Sunday night inside Baker Auditorium of the world-class Sutton Sports Performance Center!
With that, it's never too early to start planning for next fall! Secure your seats for the 2025 football season at Allegacy Stadium now as the Demon Deacons will battle for the Big Four crown with home games against North Carolina and NC State. The schedule also includes our first-ever ACC matchup with SMU, the Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech and non-conference foes Kennesaw State, Western Carolina, and Delaware. Stay tuned for announcements on Homecoming, Family Weekend, and other special events once the ACC releases the full schedule within the next month. With 11 sellouts since the 2021 season and many more expected next fall, season tickets are the best way for fans to optimize the value of all of Allegacy Stadium's seating options and pricing. Season ticket holders also receive earlier access to single game ticket sales and package opportunities. For questions or assistance, please contact the Wake Forest Ticket Office at 336-758-3322 ext 1 or tix@wfu.edu. Regular office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
ACC Schedule Ramps Up for Men's & Women's Basketball
After an extremely tough non-conference early season schedule, highlighted by the win over No. 11 Michigan in Greensboro, Coach Steve Forbes and our men's hoops squad are picking up steam and stand at 11-4 overall and 3-1 in the ACC, including the program's first-ever victory at Syracuse on New Year's Eve. The Deacs followed that win up with an 18-point Big Four win over NC State inside Joel Coliseum as the Deacs moved to 8-0 at home for the fourth-consecutive season!
Wake Forest looks to stay hot (and avoid the winter storm in NC!) on Saturday afternoon in Miami so tune in to The CW for the 5:15 p.m. tipoff or listen to 'Voice of the Deacs' Stan Cotten on the Wake Forest Sports Network.
Looking ahead, join us next Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. when Stanford makes the trip to Winston-Salem and we welcome our students back to the Joel with the game broadcast on ESPNews. And just a week later, Winston-Salem is the center of the Old North State as we welcome the North Carolina Tar Heels and Duke Blue Devils for a two-game sold-out homestand inside Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
We take pride in our passionate fan base and the electrifying atmosphere at LJVM Coliseum. At the same time, we recognize our collective responsibility for the safety and well-being of everyone involved—players, coaches, officials, and fans alike. Fans attending all games inside LJVM Coliseum are expected to join us in creating a safe and positive environment that reflects the values of Wake Forest University and the ACC. For more details on game-day guidelines, please visit GoDeacs.com/MBBGameday and please follow all protocols inside the venue.
Forty-Three Demon Deacons Earn Degrees Following Fall Semester
Following the conclusion of the fall semester, Wake Forest University had 43 student-athletes complete their academic requirements and earn their degrees last fall, which includes seven graduate degrees and three certificates. This group of esteemed Demon Deacons graduates have collectively worn the Old Gold and Black in 215 athletic contests, an Atlantic Division football title, two bowl championships, an ACC Championship (men's soccer) and had one NCAA Tournament Final Four appearance (women's soccer). Additionally, this group tallied 13 All-ACC honors and 36 Academic All-ACC accolades.
We are extremely proud of the accomplishments of these young men and women in the classroom as they worked extremely hard over the course of their academic careers to earn their Wake Forest degree. Completing their degree is an important part of providing a World Class Student-Athlete Experience.
Wake Forest Receives $30M to Advance Entrepreneurship Education
Wake Forest University has received a transformational $30 million anonymous gift to expand its Center for Entrepreneurship, marking one of the most significant donations in the University's history. This extraordinary investment will enhance access and opportunities for students by funding the addition of seasoned entrepreneurship faculty, innovative new courses, and state-of-the-art facilities. With over 400 students enrolled in entrepreneurship courses this fall and national recognition for programs like IDEATE, Deacon Springboard, and Startup Lab, Wake Forest is poised to build on its momentum as a leader in entrepreneurial education. The gift will allow the University to nearly double its course offerings, reduce class sizes, and foster deeper faculty-student mentorship, ensuring the development of entrepreneurial leaders across all disciplines. This expansion aligns with Wake Forest's Strategic Framework, emphasizing experiential learning and intimate-class engagement to prepare students for creating transformative economic and societal impact.
From the Quad Big 3
Finally, here are today's Big 3 ways to help the Deacs:
Go Deacs!
John Currie
Vice President & Director of Athletics
Happy New Year Demon Deacon Nation!
As we shared in December, it has been a time of transition for Wake Forest Volleyball. Today's latest edition of From the Quad brings tremendous excitement as Jeff Hulsmeyer is joining us as our head volleyball coach! Serving as the associate head coach at Florida State for the last 10 years, Coach Hulsmeyer has helped establish the Seminoles as a perennial NCAA Tournament team, with 10-straight appearances. His deep recruiting connections and extensive coaching experience in the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big 12 and Big Ten, and most recently his role in guiding FSU to 44 combined wins in the last two seasons and the 2023 ACC Championship make him the perfect fit to lead our Demon Deacons volleyball program.
As fans who watched the NCAA Volleyball Championships last month or have packed Varsity Arena for Demon Deacon matches in recent years can attest, collegiate volleyball is experiencing unprecedented popularity.
And, over the last several years the Atlantic Coast Conference has rapidly ascended into the pole position as the best volleyball league in the country. Jeff Hulsmeyer's dedication to student-athlete development, combined with his expertise as a recruiter, tactician, and trainer, as well as his deep familiarity with the ACC, positions him perfectly to lead Wake Forest volleyball. Paired with Wake Forest's strengths—top-tier academics, elite athletic facilities, and a prime location in North Carolina—we are well-equipped to build a consistently competitive program. And, Coach Hulsmeyer is the right person to break through and lead Demon Deacon volleyball to its first-ever NCAA Tournament and beyond.
Coach Hulysmeyer met with his new team earlier today via Zoom and with them about his program philosophies and how he will help our student-athletes grow as students, community members and players. I know he's excited to see them in person as students return to campus for the commencement of spring semester classes on Monday.
I know all of Deacon Nation joins me in extending the hand of hospitality as we welcome Coach Hulsmeyer, his wife, Michelle, and their four children Zach, Ben, Hannah and Jack to Winston-Salem.
I am grateful for the leadership and hard work of Deputy AD Lindsey Babcock, Senior Associate AD Daren Koudele, Senior Associate AD Craig Zakrzewski and the contributions of many others in securing our outstanding new coach.
Through this process, Coach Hulsmeyer's acumen and deep experience in all phases rose to the top of the candidate pool. Florida State has been consistently ranked within the American Volleyball Coaches Association's Top 25 Coaches Poll. Additionally, Coach Hulsmeyer aided Florida State in the production of five seasons of 20-plus wins, along with 12 All-Americans, two ACC Player of the Year nods, an ACC Rookie of the Year and 31 All-ACC selections.
Beyond the success he has helped his players achieve on the court, Hulsmeyer has helped a plethora of student-athletes succeed in the classroom. His tenure at Florida State involved 39 All-ACC Academic Team selections. Kansas State took home the USMC/AVCA Academic Team Award in five of Hulsmeyer's six seasons with the Wildcats. In 2001, during Hulsmeyer's third year, the Purdue volleyball team claimed the President's Cup – given to the University's sports program with the highest cumulative grade-point average. The Boilermakers also boasted 19 Academic All-Big Ten picks during Hulsmeyer's four seasons.
With significant, progressive experience at all levels of college athletics, Coach Hulsmeyer is an excellent fit to lead Wake Forest at this important moment in our college volleyball program's history. Importantly, we are confident he understands our culture at Wake Forest and that he and his family will be wonderful partners for our community. In the coming weeks, he will focus intently on player retention and recruitment and building a strong staff.
Supportive and engaged fans are essential to a successful program, and Coach Hulsmeyer is looking forward to becoming engrained at Wake Forest and in Winston-Salem. When you see him around campus or in the community, be sure to say hello and tell him you'll be inside Varsity Arena in the fall for the beginning of an exciting new era of Wake Forest Volleyball! In the meantime, if you want to send him a note and welcome him to Wake Forest - send him an email at vbcoach@wfu.edu!
With many other exciting news and notes around Wake Forest, let's jump into the rest of the updates!
Welcome to Wake Forest, New Football Staff & Players!
Following our introduction of Coach Jake Dickert back in mid-December, he and his new staff have been hard at work recruiting 28 incoming transfer student-athletes including 19 transfers and nine incoming freshmen who will join our program for the 2025 season. Those talented young men join our returning athletes including the likes of star tailback Demond Claiborne, standout defensive back Davaughn Patterson and 2024 captain Nick Andersen.
Although he's been regularly engaged with both our returning and new players since December 18, I know Coach Dickert is fired up for our first team meeting on Sunday night inside Baker Auditorium of the world-class Sutton Sports Performance Center!
With that, it's never too early to start planning for next fall! Secure your seats for the 2025 football season at Allegacy Stadium now as the Demon Deacons will battle for the Big Four crown with home games against North Carolina and NC State. The schedule also includes our first-ever ACC matchup with SMU, the Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech and non-conference foes Kennesaw State, Western Carolina, and Delaware. Stay tuned for announcements on Homecoming, Family Weekend, and other special events once the ACC releases the full schedule within the next month. With 11 sellouts since the 2021 season and many more expected next fall, season tickets are the best way for fans to optimize the value of all of Allegacy Stadium's seating options and pricing. Season ticket holders also receive earlier access to single game ticket sales and package opportunities. For questions or assistance, please contact the Wake Forest Ticket Office at 336-758-3322 ext 1 or tix@wfu.edu. Regular office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
ACC Schedule Ramps Up for Men's & Women's Basketball
After an extremely tough non-conference early season schedule, highlighted by the win over No. 11 Michigan in Greensboro, Coach Steve Forbes and our men's hoops squad are picking up steam and stand at 11-4 overall and 3-1 in the ACC, including the program's first-ever victory at Syracuse on New Year's Eve. The Deacs followed that win up with an 18-point Big Four win over NC State inside Joel Coliseum as the Deacs moved to 8-0 at home for the fourth-consecutive season!
Wake Forest looks to stay hot (and avoid the winter storm in NC!) on Saturday afternoon in Miami so tune in to The CW for the 5:15 p.m. tipoff or listen to 'Voice of the Deacs' Stan Cotten on the Wake Forest Sports Network.
Looking ahead, join us next Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. when Stanford makes the trip to Winston-Salem and we welcome our students back to the Joel with the game broadcast on ESPNews. And just a week later, Winston-Salem is the center of the Old North State as we welcome the North Carolina Tar Heels and Duke Blue Devils for a two-game sold-out homestand inside Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
We take pride in our passionate fan base and the electrifying atmosphere at LJVM Coliseum. At the same time, we recognize our collective responsibility for the safety and well-being of everyone involved—players, coaches, officials, and fans alike. Fans attending all games inside LJVM Coliseum are expected to join us in creating a safe and positive environment that reflects the values of Wake Forest University and the ACC. For more details on game-day guidelines, please visit GoDeacs.com/MBBGameday and please follow all protocols inside the venue.
Forty-Three Demon Deacons Earn Degrees Following Fall Semester
Following the conclusion of the fall semester, Wake Forest University had 43 student-athletes complete their academic requirements and earn their degrees last fall, which includes seven graduate degrees and three certificates. This group of esteemed Demon Deacons graduates have collectively worn the Old Gold and Black in 215 athletic contests, an Atlantic Division football title, two bowl championships, an ACC Championship (men's soccer) and had one NCAA Tournament Final Four appearance (women's soccer). Additionally, this group tallied 13 All-ACC honors and 36 Academic All-ACC accolades.
We are extremely proud of the accomplishments of these young men and women in the classroom as they worked extremely hard over the course of their academic careers to earn their Wake Forest degree. Completing their degree is an important part of providing a World Class Student-Athlete Experience.
Wake Forest Receives $30M to Advance Entrepreneurship Education
Wake Forest University has received a transformational $30 million anonymous gift to expand its Center for Entrepreneurship, marking one of the most significant donations in the University's history. This extraordinary investment will enhance access and opportunities for students by funding the addition of seasoned entrepreneurship faculty, innovative new courses, and state-of-the-art facilities. With over 400 students enrolled in entrepreneurship courses this fall and national recognition for programs like IDEATE, Deacon Springboard, and Startup Lab, Wake Forest is poised to build on its momentum as a leader in entrepreneurial education. The gift will allow the University to nearly double its course offerings, reduce class sizes, and foster deeper faculty-student mentorship, ensuring the development of entrepreneurial leaders across all disciplines. This expansion aligns with Wake Forest's Strategic Framework, emphasizing experiential learning and intimate-class engagement to prepare students for creating transformative economic and societal impact.
From the Quad Big 3
Finally, here are today's Big 3 ways to help the Deacs:
- As you prepare for an exciting spring inside David F. Couch Ballpark, Wake Forest Athletics is committed to providing The Best Fan Experience in North Carolina through a variety of unique ticketing and experiential opportunities for fans at Demon Deacons baseball games inside David F. Couch Ballpark. Specifically, check out our new and exclusive premium seating option – the Deacon Deck along the right field concourse!
- Read about the four members of the Wake Forest men's soccer program who were selected in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft, including three second-round selections in sophomore Travis Smith Jr. (33rd overall, Chicago Fire), senior Bo Cummins (48th overall, Houston Dynamo) and senior Trace Alphin (59th overall, Real Salt Lake). Join me in congratulating these tremendous Demon Deacons on a great accomplishment and I can't wait to follow Trace and Bo's professional journeys after recently graduating!
- With so many exciting things happening across Wake Forest Athletics, consider investing in our student-athletes by joining the Deacon Club or contributing to sport-specific excellence funds. We pledge to be careful stewards of your generosity and remain deeply grateful for your unwavering dedication and support of a World Class Student-Athlete Experience.
Go Deacs!
John Currie
Vice President & Director of Athletics
Players Mentioned
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/ Football
DB
/ FootballFootball Media Availability (12/16/25)
Tuesday, December 16
Football Media Availability (12/15/25)
Monday, December 15
Steve Forbes - Postgame Presser vs. Queens
Monday, December 15
Wake Forest Women's Basketball Highlights vs Georgia Tech (Dec. 14, 2025)
Sunday, December 14