Pike Lib hires state champion volleyball coach
Published 1:16 pm Monday, June 3, 2024
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
On Monday, Pike Liberal Arts School announced the hiring of new head volleyball coach Sellers Dubberley.
Dubberley comes into a program that earned area championships in each of its first two seasons as a part of the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA). Pike Lib advanced to the second round of the 2A South Regional Volleyball Tournament this past season.
Dubberley comes to Pike with nine years of head coaching experience and a resume that includes a career record of 212-65, three state championships and two state runner-up finishes. The Montgomery native is a graduate of Auburn-Montgomery.
“We are thrilled to officially welcome Coach Dubberley to Pike Liberal Arts,” Pike Lib Athletic Director William Moguel said. “Coach Dubberley brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success to Pike Lib’s volleyball program. We are confident in his leadership and excited or the future of our program.”
Dubberley coached Edgewood Academy from 2016 through 2019, winning two AISA State Championships and a state runner-up finish during that span. He took over the volleyball program at Montgomery-Catholic in 2019 and proceeded to guide the school to its first 4A State Championship in 2022 and three Final Four appearances.
Dubberley coached at Brewbaker Tech in 2023, winning the Area Championship and advancing to the second round of the Regional Volleyball Tournament.
“There were a lot of factors that led to me (coming to Pike Lib). Communicating with Coach (Moguel) he made me feel super welcome and he kind of laid out where the volleyball program is – and has been – and it’s in a good spot,” Dubberley said of taking the Pike job. “(Pike) has some talent and some past success to build off of. I think (Moguel) and the administration are on the same page and that is huge having everyone on the same page and working towards the same goals.
“Their goals were the same as mine and that is surprisingly not always the case. Some schools – some athletic directors – prioritize certain things over others but I felt like all of our priorities lined up in a way that would be very beneficial for me and for the program and it felt like a good fit.”
Dubberley also has extensive experience coaching club volleyball, leading the Capital City Juniors since 2012. He guided those teams to the Girls Junior National Championship a total of 10 times. Dubberley said that he’s coached some Pike players in club volleyball in the past, as well. Dubberley’s wife, Sarah, is the head volleyball coach at Trinity Presbyterian School.
Coming to Pike, Dubberley emphasized that his goals will be the same as they have been at his other coaching jobs.
“I want to get them to the next level, same as any team I’ve ever coached,” he said. “I want to come in and assess where everyone is now, individually and as a program, and to push them to the highest level that they’re capable of. A lot of times that’s higher than what they think they can accomplish.
“Every team I’ve coached the goal is exactly the same, find that ceiling and push a little bit past it year after year and create an expectation of winning championships year after year.”