Completed Event: Volleyball versus California on November 28, 2025 , Loss , 2, to, 3
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Catanach Johnson Named to AVCA Thirty Under 30
4/7/2021 1:43:00 PM | Volleyball
DURHAM, N.C. – The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) selected Duke volleyball assistant coach Kellie Catanach Johnson for its annual AVCA Thirty Under 30 Award, the association announced Monday.
"I'm honored to be recognized alongside an outstanding group of young coaches," Catanach Johnson said. "While I love this job, the hours can be long and the grind can be tough, so it's nice to have your hard work acknowledged in this way."
The Thirty Under 30 Award was established to honor 30 up-and-coming volleyball coaches who are under 30 years old. The list features men's and women's coaches from all levels, including college, high school, club, indoor and beach programs.
"Without a doubt my favorite part of coaching is connecting with and witnessing the growth of our players as both people and as athletes," she said. "It's so rewarding to me to be able to build relationships with the young people in our program and know that I've earned their trust and respect or have been able to help them in some way. Our student-athletes work so hard in all facets of their lives, so seeing their hard work pay off is amazing."
Catanach Johnson joined the volleyball staff in February of 2019 and just completed her second season with the program as an assistant coach. In her role as an assistant, Catanach Johnson aids in all aspects of the program.
A four-year letterwinner and three-time All-American, Catanach competed at Duke from 2008-11, receiving All-ACC recognition all four years of her college career and ACVA honors her final three seasons. She helped the Duke volleyball squad to two ACC Championships in 2008 and 2010. The Blue Devils made NCAA Tournament appearances all four of her seasons, advancing to the second round in 2008 and the Round of Eight in 2010.
As a junior, Catanach was named the 2010 ACC Player of the Year, becoming the seventh Duke player to earn that honor. She ended her career ranked ninth on the ACC's all-time assists leaderboard, while also becoming the third Blue Devil to post at least 1,000 assists in all four seasons and serving as the team captain for her final two years.
"While taking some time away from the sport to pursue other career opportunities, I always had it in my mind that coaching was something I would come back to," Catanach Johnson said. "I love to be in the gym and I love to compete. But more importantly, coaching provides such an incredible avenue for impact in an environment that enables us to teach and empower some outstanding young women. Being able to combine these things made the decision to get back into coaching an easy one."
Former Director of Volleyball Operations, CJ Hunter, was also honored. Hunter passed away in February of 2021, and is being honored posthumously in recognition of his passion for coaching.
Club Director Sherry Fadool shared the following memories: "We have nearly 100 incredible coaches, but CJ stood out from all with his contagious optimism, positivity, caring nature, and kindness," Fadool said. "He truly loved everyone and it was impossible not to love him back. He was a total volley nerd and student of the game. He knew it all so well yet was happy to coach a beginner as he was a collegiate athlete. He loved the game! It was his soulmate."
Hunter was the 2016 recipient of Triangle's Sam Casey Caram Excellence in Coaching Award, which is presented to the coach who best demonstrates exemplary dedication and commitment to the mission and goals of Triangle Volleyball Club.
He was a coach at the Triangle Volleyball Club in 2013 and became an administrator in 2018. Hunter led the 2020 Triangle 15 Blue to two regional event first place finishes and two top-10 finishes at national events, including a T5 finish at the Capitol Hill Classic in 15 Open. He guided the 2019 17 White to a top 10 finish [T9 out of 87 teams] in the Gold Bracket at the Northeast Qualifier, and mentored six future NCAA athletes on the squad.
Hunter coached the 2018 14 Blue to the championship match at both MAPL Hampton and MAPL Raleigh, winning the Gold Medal at MAPL Raleigh in the Red Division [13s-14s] and led the 2016 Triangle 16 Silver team to a T3 finish at the Capitol Hill Classic in 16 Club.
"When I spoke to his mother, I told her that when someone passes people say a lot of really nice things about them," Fadool said. "But for CJ, they said those things about him every day while he was living. He was an extraordinary coach and an incredible person."
#GoDuke
"I'm honored to be recognized alongside an outstanding group of young coaches," Catanach Johnson said. "While I love this job, the hours can be long and the grind can be tough, so it's nice to have your hard work acknowledged in this way."
The Thirty Under 30 Award was established to honor 30 up-and-coming volleyball coaches who are under 30 years old. The list features men's and women's coaches from all levels, including college, high school, club, indoor and beach programs.
"Without a doubt my favorite part of coaching is connecting with and witnessing the growth of our players as both people and as athletes," she said. "It's so rewarding to me to be able to build relationships with the young people in our program and know that I've earned their trust and respect or have been able to help them in some way. Our student-athletes work so hard in all facets of their lives, so seeing their hard work pay off is amazing."
Catanach Johnson joined the volleyball staff in February of 2019 and just completed her second season with the program as an assistant coach. In her role as an assistant, Catanach Johnson aids in all aspects of the program.
A four-year letterwinner and three-time All-American, Catanach competed at Duke from 2008-11, receiving All-ACC recognition all four years of her college career and ACVA honors her final three seasons. She helped the Duke volleyball squad to two ACC Championships in 2008 and 2010. The Blue Devils made NCAA Tournament appearances all four of her seasons, advancing to the second round in 2008 and the Round of Eight in 2010.
As a junior, Catanach was named the 2010 ACC Player of the Year, becoming the seventh Duke player to earn that honor. She ended her career ranked ninth on the ACC's all-time assists leaderboard, while also becoming the third Blue Devil to post at least 1,000 assists in all four seasons and serving as the team captain for her final two years.
"While taking some time away from the sport to pursue other career opportunities, I always had it in my mind that coaching was something I would come back to," Catanach Johnson said. "I love to be in the gym and I love to compete. But more importantly, coaching provides such an incredible avenue for impact in an environment that enables us to teach and empower some outstanding young women. Being able to combine these things made the decision to get back into coaching an easy one."
Former Director of Volleyball Operations, CJ Hunter, was also honored. Hunter passed away in February of 2021, and is being honored posthumously in recognition of his passion for coaching.
Club Director Sherry Fadool shared the following memories: "We have nearly 100 incredible coaches, but CJ stood out from all with his contagious optimism, positivity, caring nature, and kindness," Fadool said. "He truly loved everyone and it was impossible not to love him back. He was a total volley nerd and student of the game. He knew it all so well yet was happy to coach a beginner as he was a collegiate athlete. He loved the game! It was his soulmate."
Hunter was the 2016 recipient of Triangle's Sam Casey Caram Excellence in Coaching Award, which is presented to the coach who best demonstrates exemplary dedication and commitment to the mission and goals of Triangle Volleyball Club.
He was a coach at the Triangle Volleyball Club in 2013 and became an administrator in 2018. Hunter led the 2020 Triangle 15 Blue to two regional event first place finishes and two top-10 finishes at national events, including a T5 finish at the Capitol Hill Classic in 15 Open. He guided the 2019 17 White to a top 10 finish [T9 out of 87 teams] in the Gold Bracket at the Northeast Qualifier, and mentored six future NCAA athletes on the squad.
Hunter coached the 2018 14 Blue to the championship match at both MAPL Hampton and MAPL Raleigh, winning the Gold Medal at MAPL Raleigh in the Red Division [13s-14s] and led the 2016 Triangle 16 Silver team to a T3 finish at the Capitol Hill Classic in 16 Club.
"When I spoke to his mother, I told her that when someone passes people say a lot of really nice things about them," Fadool said. "But for CJ, they said those things about him every day while he was living. He was an extraordinary coach and an incredible person."
#GoDuke
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