Spurgeon College is pleased to announce that Jojo Wilkes is returning to Spurgeon College as the new head volleyball coach.
President Jason Allen shared his enthusiasm for the appointment, saying, "I am grateful to welcome Jojo Wilkes back to Spurgeon College as head volleyball coach. Jojo is very familiar with our work at Spurgeon College and is a perfect fit to lead our program. I am grateful our girls will learn from her and am excited to see how the Lord uses her to disciple them and lead our program. I also want to say a special thank you to Coach Lizzie Deaton for her exemplary leadership this season, prior to our hiring of Coach Wilkes."
Wilkes returns with a strong background in coaching at multiple levels, ranging from middle school to college. Most recently, she served as head volleyball coach at Calvary University for three seasons. Prior to that, she spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Spurgeon College under Coach Evie Stanton.
Her time at Calvary University was marked by historic success. In her first season, the team secured second place finishes in both their conference and regional tournaments and maintained a national ranking throughout the year. That performance earned Calvary its first-ever at-large bid to the NCCAA Division II National Tournament. The program continued to remain nationally ranked over the following two seasons.
Sharing her excitement for the new role, Wilkes said, "I am excited to meet the team, train together, and help bring in recruits for the 2026 season. I'm thrilled to work with Coach Deaton and continue building on what Coach Stanton started."
The culture of Spurgeon College also played a significant part in her decision to return. Wilkes explained, "I love the vision of the administration not just for the athletic programs, but for maintaining the integrity of a Christian education. I am excited to be part of that vision and help grow the volleyball program here."
This move is also meaningful on a personal level. Wilkes and her husband are members of Heritage Baptist Church, a new church plant near the college, and returning to the Northland allows them to remain close to their church community.
In addition to her coaching accomplishments, Wilkes had a standout playing career at Faith Baptist Bible College. During her collegiate years, she earned numerous honors, including NCCAA Division II All-American Second Team, ACCA All-American First Team as a junior, and NCCAA Division II Libero of the Year as a senior.
Sam Bierig, dean of Spurgeon College, emphasized the significance of her return. He stated, "In many ways, this is a homecoming for Coach Wilkes, but she is coming back with a surplus of experience and success that accompanies her record." He continued by noting that her leadership style is exactly what the program needs: "Coach Wilkes has the right character, competence, and competitive mentality to elevate Spurgeon Knights Girls Volleyball to the next level and to lead us into the next era. Coach Wilkes is the exact kind of Christ-follower this program needs. She is a proven winner and recruiter. Her record and reputation stand for themselves."
As she prepares for the upcoming season, Wilkes is already focused on key priorities. She explained, "I think the top priority is building relationships with the current members of the team and building positive team culture so that we can be successful going forward." She added, "My next priorities are working with Coach Deaton to recruit and grow the roster, and training hard with the team in the offseason to be ready for fall competition."
The hiring of Coach Wilkes marks an exciting new chapter for the Spurgeon College volleyball program. The college community is eager to see the direction and momentum her leadership will bring.
