June 8, 2018
Amanda Ronan, Auburn Media Relations Student Intern
A pair of Auburn volleyball alums have utilized their experiences on the Plains to make their way in the coaching world. Sarah Bullock is entering her second season at Stony Brook as an assistant, while former teammate Courtney McDonald is serving as assistant coach for UT Arlington for the second-straight year.
The duo helped build the Auburn program up while with the team and are now using what they've learned to do the same at their respective schools.
"Auburn literally helped me grow into the person I am today," Bullock said. "I learned a great deal about myself during my four years. Especially with the unique experiences of being a student-athlete. I am extremely honored that I was able to be part of such a great team and represent a great university."
Bullock, an outside hitter from 2009-12, is one of six players in Auburn's history that recorded at least 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in a career. She was team captain and was on the All-SEC Freshman team and the All-SEC second team during that span. Since her time at Auburn ended, Bullock has continued to build her volleyball resume while also reflecting on how her time as a student-athlete has built her character, began her future and ultimately shaped the rest of her professional and personal life.
"Auburn taught me leadership skills, time management, work ethic and balancing a personal life with a professional one," Bullock said. "There is nothing quite like being a student-athlete."
"Sarah was a fun challenge," Auburn head coach Rick Nold said. "She was a super fiery competitor and a great leader in how she played. Her volleyball IQ was a quality that helped her develop into one of the most versatile players I have ever coached. There is no doubt that versatility has helped her in being able to adapt when coaching multiple positions."
Bullock spent two seasons at UT Arlington overseeing the team's outside and right side hitters. She began her first season at Stony Brook in 2017 as an assistant coach where she helped guide the Seawolves to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in school history.
"My coaching motto that I stole from one of my former coaches is `we teach more than just volleyball,'" Bullock said. "If I am lucky enough to teach them something outside of volleyball, then I am successful. If I can help these girls learn how to be successful young women in the world, then I have done my job. Being put in a position to help teach and guide these athletes is the main reason I do what I do."
McDonald finished her career at Auburn in 2013 with 451 kills at middle blocker and ranks 10th all-time in career hitting percentage for the Tigers. Since departing from the Plains, she has worked her way up in the coaching world. She began at Florida State as Director of Operations in 2014.
"My original plan was to teach kids," McDonald said. "I was talking to my coaches my senior year because I wasn't ready for volleyball to be out of my life, but I knew I didn't want to play overseas. They questioned if I had ever considered coaching. I hadn't really thought about it, but that sparked an interest."
After she graduated, McDonald ended up moving back home to Florida for a few months to job hunt when Nold gave her information about the opportunity at Florida State.
"I really didn't think my coaches did anything outside of practice or matches, but I have so much more respect for them now," McDonald said. "There's a lot more that goes into coaching that I didn't realize as a player. There are different decisions you have to make to try to reach your goal for your program. I do enjoy that part though, helping make decisions that shape our program."
When McDonald started at Florida State, the team ranked third in the nation and made it to the NCAA Elite Eight that following season. She then went to Baylor for two seasons in the same position. After looking at volleyball from the other side for three years, McDonald realized she was ready to coach. From there, she began her journey as assistant coach at UT Arlington.
"Courtney was a great competitor and was a leader for our team in how she battled through challenges and improved each year," Nold said. "She was also one of the main team members that naturally connected to recruits and helped them understand what it meant to be part of our Auburn program. It makes a lot of sense that she is a recruiter now."
Something that Bullock and McDonald share is that they were both a part of the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance team in 2010.
"We had our ups and downs that year, but we pulled together as a team when it counted and were able to make it to the dance," Bullock said. "We watched the selection show as a team, and I will never forget watching all of the other SEC names appear, and then finally Auburn showed up. We screamed, laughed and cried, and I'm pretty sure I felt every emotion ever during that time. It was great."
This was a memorable experience for Bullock for many reasons, but especially because she was able to return home to Nebraska to play in the first rounds. She had grown up watching Nebraska and enjoyed the fact that she was able to play in front of her entire family.
"It was one of the best days of my life," Bullock said. "It actually was the last two games that my dad got to see me play because he passed away four months later. Having that memory with him and my family is something that I hold on to dearly. All of the blood, sweat and tears that went into that year at Auburn was 100 percent worth it in the end."
That same team had the program's first 20-win season since 1998 and put together its best overall record in SEC play since 1999.
"Wow, what a special year," McDonald said. "I actually redshirted that year. There were 22 of us on that team, but the experience was amazing. To have been part of a team that left history is great. We were playing for each other and it really paid off."
When deciding to choose a school to continue your athletic career, it is important to select the one that will best fit you. That place will make an immense impact and will continuously influence your life. These two admire Auburn because it not only gave them four or five more years of playing the sport they love, but it truly helped shape their adult lives.
"I learned a lot about myself and how the world works in college," Bullock said. "Auburn treated me really well. It was a great university to be a student-athlete. When I think of Auburn, I think of the starting place of the rest of my life."
"Auburn means a lot to me," McDonald said. "Life lessons were learned and lifetime friendships were born. It helped me start the career path I'm on now and I wouldn't change a thing. Auburn taught me many things. I would say the most valuable thing is to have confidence. It is something I use every day. Have the confidence to go after things you want in life. It helps with my career and personal life. I wouldn't be where I'm at without it and Auburn definitely taught me that."
For the latest on Auburn volleyball, follow @AuburnVB on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AuburnVB.