Photo by: Bryce Mitchell / Wake Forest Athletics
Deacon Sports Xtra: Vision and Landscape Drew Sherisa Livingston to Wake Forest Volleyball
1/22/2026 8:02:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
The former All-American and professional athlete reflects on her journey to Winston-Salem over the past year.
When Sherisa Livingston reached out to newly-hired Wake Forest volleyball coach Jeff Hulsmeyer about a year ago, it wasn't because she was chasing a logo or a league. It was because the opportunity matched something more personal — the way she thinks about coaching, education and what a program can become when it's built intentionally.
"I saw that [Jeff] had been named the head coach, and I kind of kept my eye on what the framework was going to be," Livingston said. "I noticed he hadn't hired assistants yet, so I reached out. I sent my résumé and wrote him a letter explaining a little bit about who I am and why I was interested, because sometimes people are interested just because of what surrounds the school.
"I wasn't. Wake Forest fits who I am as a coach and where I want to be."
Livingston had already done the deeper homework. School size. Location. Campus environment. The day-to-day reality of where you live and work — not just what happens between whistles.
"I have to live in this city," she noted. "I have to come here every day for work. It's not just the volleyball piece. I've always been more comfortable at schools the size of Wake Forest because I feel like the student-athletes can get a really, really good education. The professor-to-student ratio matters, and I think that's something the student-athletes I recruit really value."
What sealed it, though, was the way Hulsmeyer talked about the program itself.
"The number one thing that resonated with me was that he didn't see it as rebuilding anything," Livingston said. "He saw it as … building. That's a very different mindset.
"He's been in this conference for a long time, so he understands what it takes to compete, what it takes to win and what draws people to a place like Wake Forest. That mattered to me, because I didn't want to go somewhere where people were unfamiliar with the landscape."
Livingston joined the newly-constructed staff following a difficult 2024 season that ended with an eight-match losing streak. The 2025 season, the first under Hulsmeyer, was less about immediate payoff and more about stabilization — a competitive step forward amid roster turnover and limited depth.
For Livingston, the record told only part of the story.
"I've been part of starting things from the ground up before," she explained. "One of the biggest lessons I learned early on was that you can't just fill spots. You need a plan — who you're recruiting, which positions matter most first, and how the pieces fit together.
"When you don't have 14 players already in place, you're building. I think that experience really helps here."
On the court, Livingston's role aligns naturally with her background. A former middle blocker at Wisconsin — one of the most decorated players in Badgers history — she works primarily with middles, right sides, blockers and attackers, while still contributing across all positions.
"Jeff wants everyone to have a hand in every position," Livingston said. "But obviously, we'll each have areas we focus on. The important thing is that we all understand what's being taught so we can step in when something needs correcting or reinforcing."
Her understanding of those roles was forged through an elite playing career that didn't fully reveal itself until she reached college.
"I started playing when I was 14, but I didn't really figure out that I was good until I arrived at college," she admitted. "Honestly, it wasn't until the end of my freshman year."
At Wisconsin, Livingston became a two-time AVCA First Team All-American, a Big Ten Player of the Year and the program's all-time leader in kills. Even then, she didn't envision coaching as her future.
"I thought I wanted to be a teacher," she said. "At one point, I even thought about business. But I knew I still wanted to be around the sport. I had put so much of my life into it."
That connection carried her into a professional career that spanned over a decade and more than 10 countries, including stops in Puerto Rico, Greece, Spain, Turkey, Italy and Romania.
"It was honestly one of the greatest blessings of my life," Livingston said. "I was able to have my family come and experience places they'd never been. Because I lived there, it wasn't a tourist experience. They got to see real life."
"I'm very type A, and I like what I like. But being able to live in other cultures, meet different people, and experience life in ways I never would have otherwise — it opened me up as a person."
Her favorite stop still comes quickly.
"I absolutely loved Greece," she said. "It was a few years after the Olympics. We were in the Greek Cup, and they put us on a cruise ship to travel for matches. We had multiple sports playing for the same club — volleyball, basketball, handball. You weren't alone."
"That sense of community sticks with you. My mom always said, 'If you love this sport, it will love you back.' And that's exactly what happened."
That global perspective now informs how Livingston approaches recruiting and program development. While [Triplette Family Assistant Coach] Tina Readling spearheads recruiting strategy, Livingston has been on the road consistently, helping lay the groundwork for future classes. What excites her most, though, isn't just wins or milestones. It's the relationships and the chance to be part of a program's defining moments.
"I want to be part of the history," Livingston said. "First time finishing top four in the conference. First NCAA tournament run. Sweet 16s, Elite Eights – those moments matter.
"I want to see the joy on their faces when they experience those 'firsts.' No matter the conference or level, those accomplishments mean something."
Nearly a year into the role, Livingston says the fit feels natural — professionally and personally.
"I really love coming to work every day," she said. "I know I'm going to learn from this staff, and I know there are many ways to achieve success.
"That excites me. Because when you believe in the process, the future takes care of itself."
"I saw that [Jeff] had been named the head coach, and I kind of kept my eye on what the framework was going to be," Livingston said. "I noticed he hadn't hired assistants yet, so I reached out. I sent my résumé and wrote him a letter explaining a little bit about who I am and why I was interested, because sometimes people are interested just because of what surrounds the school.
"I wasn't. Wake Forest fits who I am as a coach and where I want to be."
Livingston had already done the deeper homework. School size. Location. Campus environment. The day-to-day reality of where you live and work — not just what happens between whistles.
"I have to live in this city," she noted. "I have to come here every day for work. It's not just the volleyball piece. I've always been more comfortable at schools the size of Wake Forest because I feel like the student-athletes can get a really, really good education. The professor-to-student ratio matters, and I think that's something the student-athletes I recruit really value."
What sealed it, though, was the way Hulsmeyer talked about the program itself.
"The number one thing that resonated with me was that he didn't see it as rebuilding anything," Livingston said. "He saw it as … building. That's a very different mindset.
"He's been in this conference for a long time, so he understands what it takes to compete, what it takes to win and what draws people to a place like Wake Forest. That mattered to me, because I didn't want to go somewhere where people were unfamiliar with the landscape."
Livingston joined the newly-constructed staff following a difficult 2024 season that ended with an eight-match losing streak. The 2025 season, the first under Hulsmeyer, was less about immediate payoff and more about stabilization — a competitive step forward amid roster turnover and limited depth.
For Livingston, the record told only part of the story.
"I've been part of starting things from the ground up before," she explained. "One of the biggest lessons I learned early on was that you can't just fill spots. You need a plan — who you're recruiting, which positions matter most first, and how the pieces fit together.
"When you don't have 14 players already in place, you're building. I think that experience really helps here."
On the court, Livingston's role aligns naturally with her background. A former middle blocker at Wisconsin — one of the most decorated players in Badgers history — she works primarily with middles, right sides, blockers and attackers, while still contributing across all positions.
"Jeff wants everyone to have a hand in every position," Livingston said. "But obviously, we'll each have areas we focus on. The important thing is that we all understand what's being taught so we can step in when something needs correcting or reinforcing."
Her understanding of those roles was forged through an elite playing career that didn't fully reveal itself until she reached college.
"I started playing when I was 14, but I didn't really figure out that I was good until I arrived at college," she admitted. "Honestly, it wasn't until the end of my freshman year."
At Wisconsin, Livingston became a two-time AVCA First Team All-American, a Big Ten Player of the Year and the program's all-time leader in kills. Even then, she didn't envision coaching as her future.
"I thought I wanted to be a teacher," she said. "At one point, I even thought about business. But I knew I still wanted to be around the sport. I had put so much of my life into it."
That connection carried her into a professional career that spanned over a decade and more than 10 countries, including stops in Puerto Rico, Greece, Spain, Turkey, Italy and Romania.
"It was honestly one of the greatest blessings of my life," Livingston said. "I was able to have my family come and experience places they'd never been. Because I lived there, it wasn't a tourist experience. They got to see real life."
"I'm very type A, and I like what I like. But being able to live in other cultures, meet different people, and experience life in ways I never would have otherwise — it opened me up as a person."
Her favorite stop still comes quickly.
"I absolutely loved Greece," she said. "It was a few years after the Olympics. We were in the Greek Cup, and they put us on a cruise ship to travel for matches. We had multiple sports playing for the same club — volleyball, basketball, handball. You weren't alone."
"That sense of community sticks with you. My mom always said, 'If you love this sport, it will love you back.' And that's exactly what happened."
That global perspective now informs how Livingston approaches recruiting and program development. While [Triplette Family Assistant Coach] Tina Readling spearheads recruiting strategy, Livingston has been on the road consistently, helping lay the groundwork for future classes. What excites her most, though, isn't just wins or milestones. It's the relationships and the chance to be part of a program's defining moments.
"I want to be part of the history," Livingston said. "First time finishing top four in the conference. First NCAA tournament run. Sweet 16s, Elite Eights – those moments matter.
"I want to see the joy on their faces when they experience those 'firsts.' No matter the conference or level, those accomplishments mean something."
Nearly a year into the role, Livingston says the fit feels natural — professionally and personally.
"I really love coming to work every day," she said. "I know I'm going to learn from this staff, and I know there are many ways to achieve success.
"That excites me. Because when you believe in the process, the future takes care of itself."
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