VALDOSTA —
Sia Poyer is headed home.
Poyer, the women’s volleyball coach at Valdosta State University for the past eight seasons, announced he has accepted the head coach position at his alma mater, Eastern New Mexico.
“I want to thank Mr. Reinhard for the incredible opportunity to coach at Valdosta State over the past eight years,” said Poyer in a university release. “He has been an outstanding boss and mentor for me and my growth as a head coach. I’d also like to thank Blazer Volleyball, alumni, former players who I’ve recruited and my current team whom I’m leaving, along with all of our supporters for their hard work and support. Everyone has made this experience so rewarding.”
Poyer’s new position at Eastern New Mexico will begin immediately. Valdosta State will put together a search committee to find a replacement.
Prior to joining Valdosta State, Poyer spent 14 seasons as an assistant coach at Eastern New Mexico, where his wife, Jennifer, was a former All-American and is now a member of the school’s athletic hall of fame.
“My family and I are looking forward to returning to Portales, N.M., and the Eastern New Mexico University community,” said Poyer. “I’m looking forward to taking on the new challenge of helping to bring Zia volleyball back to one of the elite teams in the Lone Star Conference.”
After Valdosta State combined to win just eight total games between the 2003 and 2004 seasons, Poyer took over the Blazer volleyball program and won 10 games in 2005.
That was just the start to his success, which was followed up with a 21-15 record and an appearance in the Gulf South Conference tournament in 2006.
Since then, Poyer made four more appearances in the GSC tournament, and finished his Blazer coaching career with a 129-137 record.
“Sia has been a very valued member of our VSU Athletics family and we will certainly miss him,” said Herb Reinhard, Director of Athletics. “He has built a very solid volleyball program for VSU and has been a positive role model for our volleyball student-athletes.
“Sia and his family have very strong ties to Eastern New Mexico, and I’m sure that he will do a tremendous job there. We will start a national search to find someone that can build upon the great foundation Coach Poyer has provided.”
In 2012, the Blazers boasted four All-GSC players, which tied for the most of any team in the conference. Poyer also guided multiple players to All-GSC selections in his time at the university.
“I know that Blazer Volleyball will continue to excel, and I’m also very happy about the fact that I’m leaving Blazer Volleyball with a strong team returning,” Poyer said. “The new coach will be coming into an ideal situation.
“I will, however, miss the VSU community and especially the VSU Athletics staff. I will be a Blazer forever.”
Blazers Blog
VSU's Sia Poyer accepts position at Eastern New Mexico
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