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There have been some very successful volleyball coaches at Morristown East, and Courtney Dotson is looking to add her name to the list.

On Wednesday, Morristown East announced Dotson as their new volleyball head coach. Dotson comes from Greeneville Middle School where she has coached volleyball and softball for the past three years.

“I am very excited,” Dotson said. “It kind of came together last minute, but I am very excited to get started at this program. I know they have had a plethora of great coaches so to be able to get in line with that is super exciting.”

Dotson is very familiar with the Morristown East volleyball program, having played high school volleyball at Greeneville and then moved on to Walters State just down the road from East. Dotson played 60 matches for Walters State in two years and was named to the All-Region team her sophomore season.

Because of all that, Dotson met and grew connected to former coaches at Morristown East and understands what it takes to win with the Lady ‘Canes program.

“Growing up, I had relationships with the people that ran the program here in Robin Vannoy and Kendall Bryant and saw what they did with this program,” Dotson said. “I went to Walters State and played there too, so I know how awesome this area is and the people here.”

Arguably the most successful coach that Morristown East has had, Holly Drinnon, is who Dotson will be replacing. Drinnon is remaining at the school as a teacher, a huge benefit for Dotson to have if she has questions, needs advice, etc.

“It’s going to be very helpful,” Dotson said. “I am very excited to have her knowledge here. Just to be able to reach out to her and know she is here, is super great.”

It will be Dotson’s first high school head coaching job but won’t be the first time Dotson has coached kids of that age as she has coached travel volleyball during the offseason.

“It’s going to be a little bit of a change(going from middle to high school), but the mindset is that there are bigger goals and there’s a lot more dedication and a time commitment that come with it,” Dotson said. “Ultimately, the goal, like it was when I was in high school, is to make it to Murfreesboro. But it’s going to take a lot of work to get there.”

While East loses Kiersten Bell, Laken Burnside and Finley Surber, the Lady ‘Canes do return a good chunk of talent. That includes First Team All-Conference member Lilabeth Jordan, Conference Libero of the Year Hailey Hall and Conference Rookie of the Year Harmony Sullivan.

“I am very excited to see what we have and be able to adapt with the players,” Dotson said. “What I like to see is quick offense and ball control defense. Just to be able to teach those girls what I have to give, that’s what I am super excited about. I have heard a lot about some of the girls that I am getting.”

As the summer approaches and Dotson and her team begin preparing for the regular season, Dotson has a couple goals in mind that she wants to see her team work on before August comes.

“I think that goals in the offseason are to get stronger and just being able to focus on the small, fine details,” Dotson said. “In a lot of my past programs, we have talked about how all the offseason work contributes to the season. If you’re getting stronger, faster and are eating right in the offseason, that is going to help you produce those wins and everything good that happens during the season.”

The season for Morristown East will begin in mid-August as the Lady ‘Canes look to win their fourth straight District Tournament title.