Radford University Athletics

Caleb Adams is in his eighth year with Radford volleyball and seventh as an assistant coach.

Over the past three seasons, Radford has compiled a 71-18 record (80.0 win percentage) - reaching at least 22 wins in three straight years for the first time in program history. He helped the Highlanders win 20+ games in back-to-back seasons during the 2013 and 2014 campaigns.

Most recently, Adams led the Highlanders to a 22-7 record including a 12-4 mark in Big South play. They reached the Big South Tournament title game for the second consecutive season and were selected to play in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship where they defeated Appalachian State in the first round.

Five players earned All-Conference recognition including Mallory McKnight and Stephanie Neast who made the First Team. McKnight, joined by teammate Haley Kleespies, also made the 2018 Virginia Sports Information Directors All-State team as well.

With Adams’ assistance, the 2017 Highlanders posted 25 victories including three over Power Five opponents – all on the road. The one victory that mattered the most came in the Big South Championship title match against top-seeded High Point. Radford defeated the team on its home court and clinched a berth to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in program history.  In 2017, Radford had its highest RPI in most recent years, coming in at 60.

During the 2014 season, Adams assisted Radford to its first win over a Pac-12 program (defeated California) and its first win over a Big Ten program (defeated Maryland). Following a 12-2 mark in Big South play, the Highlanders captured their second straight Big South regular-season title.

Adams' work was exemplified in the development of setters Haley Kleespies (2015-2018) and Jena Braden (2011-2014).  Kleepsies completed her career as the all-time assists leader for the Highlanders and holds several of the top 10 all-time records in the rally-scoring era including rankings in assists per season and assists per set. She led the league in assists per set in 2015 (10.72), in 2016 (11.72), and again in 2017 (11.04), while finishing second in 2018 (10.88).  She has been recognized as a member of the All-Big South squads during her tenure at Radford. Braden, whom Adams developed into an All-Big South performer her senior season (2014), finished her career with 3,494 assists, which ranks third all-time in rally-scoring history. She led the league in 2014 in assists (1,315), which was the second-most assists ever recorded by a Highlander in a single season in the rally-scoring era at the time.

Led by five All-Big South performers, Radford claimed its eighth Big South regular season championship and fifth league tournament title in 2013. The Highlanders boasted a 25-10 record after advancing to the "Big Dance" for the third time in program history, where they faced No. 10 national seed Minnesota in Minneapolis. It was Radford's best record since 2000 when the Highlanders went 28-7.

In addition to playing in 14 five-set matches, RU was tested throughout its magical season. The pressure peaked in the conference tournament where the Highlanders knocked off two-time defending champion Liberty in five sets and No. 2 seed Coastal Carolina in the championship match in straight sets. Despite the lopsided win in the final, the Highlanders had to prevail in the longest set in Big South championship history (36-34 in the first set).

Adams attended North Carolina State University (1993-1997), earning bachelor of science in Mathematics & Math Education. Following graduation, Adams gained employment as a math teacher at Leesville Road High School in Raleigh, N.C.

While in North Carolina, Adams worked with two clubs in two different seasons. The first was an independent group of players from the Raleigh area who called their team "Airborne" (1996-97 - 18's division). With his second club, Club Raleigh (1999-00), his 18's squad participated at the National Championships in New Orleans, La.  When he and his wife spent a year in Massachusetts, they worked under Smash Volleyball (2000-01 - 18's division).

Adams has also served as head coach of the Tidewater Volleyball Association Juniors Program working with the 13, 14 & 15's age groups. During his tenure at TVA, one squad qualified for the national championships. Adams was a co-founder of the Beach Elite Volleyball Club of Virginia Beach, Va.  During the inaugural Beach Elite season (2008-09), Adams coached the Beach Elite 18's squad and served as club director.

In 2009-10, he coached the 17's team, which won the regional bid tournament and qualified for the national championships in Reno, Nev.  In 2010-11, Adams returned to coach the 18's team. This squad won the regional bid tournament and qualified for the national championships in Atlanta, Ga.
 
Throughout his years of involvement with club volleyball, Adams has had the honor to coach many players who continued their playing days with colleges at various levels.
 
In addition to working as a JO coach, Adams has worked as a clinician, camp counselor and personal trainer while in the Tidewater area.  Also, Adams was the head JV and assistant Varsity coach while employed at Leesville High School (1997-99-Raleigh, N.C.) and was an assistant under Kathy Stefanou at Millbrook High (1996-Raleigh, N.C.). Following a move to Greensboro, he spent a season at Page High School (2000).   

Beginning in 2008, Adams served as co-head coach at Kellam High in Virginia Beach, Va. In his first season, his squad captured the Ukrop's Showcase and reached as high as No. 62 in the country as rated by Prepvolleyball.com, finishing with a 19-4 record. The 2009 Knights finished third in the Beach District at 15-6.
 
The 2010 Knights continued their winning ways, capturing the Volleyball Showcase (formerly Ukrop's Showcase), Beach District regular season championship (co-champs), Beach District Tournament Championship, Eastern Regional Championship, and the VHSL Group AAA State Championship with a 30-3 record. 
 
This feat was bested by the 2011 Kellam squad, which finished the season with a match record of 33-0 (96-4 in sets). The 2011 Knights captured the Volleyball Showcase Tournament and Endless Summer Tournament titles, both the regular season and tournament championships of the Beach District, the Eastern Region tournament title, and the VHSL Group AAA State Championship. Dating back to 10/7/11, Kellam had reeled off 48 consecutive matches (the best in the state).  Also, the team finished ranked No. 26 in the country as rated by Prepvolleyball.com.
 
During his tenure at Kellam, the Knights had the best four-year stretch in school history (97-13, an 88.18 winning percentage). In his four years at Kellam, the program placed nine athletes on the All-Beach District first team, six athletes on the All-Eastern Region first team, five players on the Group AAA All-State team, and a two-time AAA State Player of the Year (2010 & 2011), Radford alumni Cheyanne James. In 2010, the Knights' staff was awarded the Eastern Region Co-coaching Staff of the Year and Adams was honored as the VHSL Group AAA State Coach of the Year.
 
Adams is employed as an associate professor at Radford University in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.

He resides in Radford with his wife, Karen, and five daughters, Trinity, Mattox, Raelin, and twins, Vivienne and Genevieve.