Lettie Wilkes enters her fifth season directing the Royals volleyball program had head coach. She enters her ten season in collegiate coaching and had led the Royals to three of their best seasons in University history in 2011, 2012, and 2013. Wilkes has compiled and overall record of 82-52 and has gained two East Division Conference Carolinas Champions and one regular season Conference Carolinas Championship. In the past four seasons under the direction of Coach Wilkes the Royals have moved up in the school career statistical volleyball records with records being broken in career assist, digs, and kills. In 2013 season Wilkes led the Royals to the University’s first appearance into the NCAA’s as the 6th seed in the Southeast Region ranking in the top 64 in the country. Under the direction of Wilkes the Royals just recently in 2014 were awarded from the AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) team academic award with a 3.54 team GPA.
Wilkes holds a master’s degree of educational administration from the University of Scranton (Scranton, PA) as she has garnered ample experience in both volleyball coaching and leadership roles. Wilkes came to Queens University of Charlotte from the administrative sector as she served as an assistant principal and athletic director at Fred T. Foard High school in Newton, North Carolina from 2009-2011. During her tenure at Foard she served as the NCHSAA 2A/3A Northwestern Athletic Conference President. While in the leadership role, she served as a volunteer assistant at Lenoir Rhyne University (LRU) for the Bears.
Wilkes has a wealth of experience in the game of volleyball as she served as a standout setter at SAC conference contender Catawba College from 1999-2002. Following her collegiate playing career with a B.S. degree in physical education and health from Catawba College, she began her teaching and coach career at Fred T. Foard High School (Newton, NC). She was lead junior varsity and varsity coach at Fred T. Foard High school from 2003-2005. The varsity program earned two NC state championships in 2003 and 2005, and she was named conference coach of the year in both 2004 and 2005, and Charlotte Observer Coach of the Year in 2003 in her augural season.
Following her coaching tenure at Foard, she advanced on into the college sector taking on the program at Conference Carolina, Belmont Abbey College, from 2006-2009. She transitioned the Crusader’s program to create a winning culture and coached one Conference Freshman of the Year and several all-conference players. She served at the SWA (Senior Woman Administrator for the Abbey as well at the Student Athletic Advisory Committee Advisor, and served as a member on the student outreach network board.
Coach Wilkes serves as an active member of the AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) and was named in 2009 to the inaugural “Thirty Under 30” awards which recognizes up-and coming coaching talent at all levels of the game of volleyball.
The Williamsport, Md. native was a two-time captain and named team MVP in 2002 at Catawba. She etched her name in numerous record books for the Indians including being ranked No. 11 by the NCAA for service aces in a season, 93; at Catawba she currently is second in service aces with a career total of 208, and per game average of, 0.68. She is in the top-10 assists leaders per match, season, and career. She was twice a South Atlantic Conference (SAC) All-Tournament honoree and was once selected as SAC statistical leader and First Team All-SAC.
Wilkes resides in Belmont, North Carolina.
