1/5/26
Former Liberty club coach to lead Hornets’ emerging program
The University of Lynchburg has named Joshua Knapp as head coach of its men’s volleyball program following the completion of the Hornets’ inaugural season, Director of Athletics Jon Waters announced.
Knapp comes to the Hill City after serving as head coach of Liberty University’s men’s club volleyball program since January 2023. Prior to taking the helm, he spent the fall 2022 semester as an assistant coach with the Flames, helping develop training plans and coordinate team logistics. His coaching background is complemented by his work as an NCAA and Virginia High School League certified official since August 2025.
“Josh made a great impression on our staff with his student-focused leadership and desire to build a championship-level program,” Waters said. “His commitment to the well-rounded student experience was evident through his past experiences. We are excited to have him get in motion with our group next month.”
The new Hornets coach is a former two-sport athlete at Liberty, where he competed in men’s volleyball for four years and served as team captain from 2020 through 2022. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with specializations in business, sports management, and carpentry from Liberty in 2022.
“I want to thank Director of Athletics Jon Waters and the staff at the University of Lynchburg for giving me this opportunity to lead this newly established program,” Knapp said. “The University of Lynchburg has a proven history of success within its athletic department, and my goal is to embody that culture and elevate men’s volleyball to become a top contender in both the ODAC and the NCAA. I look forward to the opportunity to challenge the narrative of what’s possible for a newly founded program.”
Knapp inherits a program that finished 9-15 overall and 2-10 in Old Dominion Athletic Conference play during its first season. The Hornets showed flashes of competitiveness with a mid-season stretch that included five wins in seven matches, posting sweeps of Mount Aloysius, Wilson, Warren Wilson, Regent (twice), and Bethany. Lynchburg finished with a respectable 7-5 record in non-conference play but struggled in ODAC competition, posting conference wins only against Averett (twice) before ending the season on a six-match losing streak.
Emerging sophomore Nick Redding had 263 kills (3.29 per set) as a freshman setting the tone for the offensive attack in 2025. Second year outside hitter Jeremiah Costello paced the attack in 2025 with 163 kills (2.56 per set) and a .140 hitting percentage, while junior Mason Kenna provided a tertiary offensive threat with 122 kills (2.13 per set). Sophomore Miller Varley anchors the playmaking with 493 assists (7.25 per set), in 2025 as the primary setter.
The Hornets open their 2026 season on January 25 at Gallaudet University under Knapp’s leadership.