MACU Tabs Faith Avalos to Lead Volleyball Program

February 6th, 2018

OKLAHOMA CITY– The Mid-America Christian University volleyball team will have a new leader for the 2018 season. Athletics Director Marcus Moeller announced Tuesday that Faith Avalos has been hired as head volleyball coach for the Evangels, becoming the program’s fifth head coach since joining the NAIA in the 2008 season.

“I am extremely excited to add Coach Avalos to our MACU family,” said Moeller. “From the first conversation we had, it was obvious that she is a great fit with our institution. She loves the Lord and is passionate about using volleyball as a way to glorify God and mentor young women in their spiritual and personal growth.”

Avalos said she is thankful for the opportunity to coach for the Evangels.

“I want to thank Marcus Moeller and President Dr. John Fozard for welcoming me into the MACU family,” she said. “I am excited for the opportunity to lead the volleyball team and work within this amazing community. I am incredibly thankful that God has called me to Mid-America Christian University.”

Avalos comes to MACU after spending the last four seasons as an assistant coach at two institutions in the Great American Conference. She spent the 2017 season at the University of Arkansas-Monticello, where she served as both an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.

"I am excited for Faith to start her new journey,” remarked UAM head coach Katie Burdeau. “I have no doubt that she is ready and she will do great. She is an outstanding coach that understands all aspects of the game. Faith radiates passion for the game with a balance of genuine care for the players. MACU is getting a great coach and even better person to add to their community. She makes everyone around her a better person."

From 2014 through 2016, Avalos was an assistant coach at Ouchita Baptist University, where she enjoyed a run of tremendous success. She served as the program’s recruiting coordinator, as well as planned and organized all the team’s practices and workouts. As the recruiting coordinator, she successfully recruited and signed OBU’s first full early signing class in more than a decade.

On the court, the Tigers were tremendously successful with Avalos on the bench. Their 2016 campaign culminated with a GAC title win and school records for both overall record (23-7) and conference record (12-4). That season, OBU boasted three All-GAC first team selections, including the GAC Setter of the Year, one All-GAC Second Team honoree, the GAC Freshman of the Year and numerous academic awards. In 2015, Avalos helped coach the unanimous GAC Player of the Year and four All-GAC selections. During Avalos’ coaching debut in 2014, the Tigers had three All-GAC honorees.

During her tenure at OBU, Avalos also served as the Student-Athlete Academic Coordinator, where she oversaw and encouraged the academic success of OBU student-athletes.

As a club volleyball coach, Avalos has experience with two different clubs. She served as head coach of the Hot Springs Juniors 16-year-old team in 2013, and coached the club’s 15-year-olds in 2012. She also served as a roamer coach for the Victory Volleyball Club from 2010-2014. Avalos played collegiate volleyball at OBU from 2010-2013, earning a spot as the team’s captain during her senior year. In four years with the Tigers, she amassed 488 kills and 101 blocks. She was inducted into the educational honor society Kappa Delta Pi in 2013 and in 2014, she was named to the OBU President’s List.

“As a player and then assistant coach, Coach Avalos played an integral role in turning around the Ouchita Baptist volleyball program,” said Moeller. “This turnaround culminated in the 2016 GAC Championship. After four years recruiting at the NCAA Division II level, Faith has established herself as an elite recruiter in the Midwest with a tremendous reputation of building meaningful and lasting relationships early in the recruiting process. The future of our volleyball program is in great hands."