Georgia Southern Director of Athletics Tom Kleinlein announced Tuesday that the school has named Dustin Wood its head volleyball coach.
    A 10-year volleyball coaching veteran, Wood comes to Georgia Southern from George Mason University, where he spent the last three seasons — two as an assistant coach on the women’s staff and one as an assistant coach on the men’s staff.
    “I would like to thank Tom Kleinlein, Jeff Blythe, Georgia Southern University and the athletic department for giving me the opportunity to direct the women's volleyball program,” Wood said. “I am looking forward to working with the team this year and I am very excited about the opportunity we have in front of us. My wife, Shannon, and I are looking forward to our move and being a part of the Georgia Southern family and Eagle nation. I would also like to thank George Mason, especially head coaches Pat Kendrick (women’s) and Fred Chao (men’s) for the opportunity they gave me.”
    As the recruiting coordinator on the women’s staff from 2011-12, Wood helped recruit five freshman who all started for the Patriots in 2012. He helped coach three All-Colonial Athletic Association selections, including two-time honoree outside hitter Lana Zonjic, who earned third-team honors in 2011 and second-team accolades in 2012. Wood also aided in freshman Lolade Owokoniran’s development en route to an All-Rookie team nod in 2012. He was responsible for directing and assisting with match preparation, scouting, planning practice and defensive systems and blocking schemes.
    He recruited five “Fab 50” recruits while on the men’s staff under coach Fred Chao and was instrumental in leading the team to the EIVA Semifinals and garnering a number of All-EIVA selections for Mason players.
    Wood was selected the head coach of the USA Boys Youth Select Continental Team, which took the Bronze Medal at the USA High Performance Championships in Tucson, Ariz., in 2012.
    Wood spent six seasons as a coach at East Stroudsburg University and served as the head coach of the Division I men’s program from 2006-09. He led the Warriors to EIVA quarterfinal and NCAA Division I Playoff appearances in 2006 and 2007.
    “Dustin comes highly recommended by a number of coaches on the collegiate and national levels,” Kleinlein said. “As we worked through our national search, which was headed by Senior Associate AD Jeff Blythe, it was apparent that Dustin was the leading candidate for the job. He brings head coaching experience, experience as a player and the understanding of the CEO concept of running a program.”