Huntingdon hires St. James coach Amy Patterson to lead volleyball program

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Huntingdon College volleyball program has a new coach. But she is no stranger to the Huntingdon program.

Former Huntingdon volleyball player and longtime St. James School coach Amy Patterson has been hired to lead the Hawks. Huntingdon College athletic director Buzz Phillips officially announced the hiring on Wednesday.

"We're very happy to have Amy as our new volleyball coach," Phillips said. "She is a former Huntingdon student-athlete and an excellent volleyball coach. She has proven herself during the past 11 years with her success at St. James. She has won state titles, sent players to the next level and above all, led her student-athletes in the right way."

From 2001 through this season, Patterson led the Montgomery school to the Alabama High School Athletic Association state tournament 10 times, won two state titles and finished as state runner-up once. Before Patterson's arrival, the Trojans had reached the state tournament seven times in school history.

Patterson posted a record of 361-177 at St. James and was named an All-Metro Coach of the Year three times by the Montgomery Advertiser. She is the current president of the Alabama Volleyball Coaches Association.

"I'm very excited about this opportunity," Patterson said. "It's one of those bittersweet moments because St. James has been my home and my family for a long time. It's hard to leave, but Huntingdon is where I got my start. I'm excited to be able to go back there and coach the sport I love."

Patterson, who graduated from Huntingdon in 2000 with a B.A. in Human Performance and Kinesiology, played volleyball for three seasons with the Hawks and was also a manager and assistant coach with the men's and women's basketball teams. She began coaching at St. James on a part-time basis while attending Huntingdon.

Patterson replaces Megan Aiello as the head volleyball coach and assistant athletic director for eligibility and compliance.

"We appreciate the effort that coach Aiello gave Huntingdon College in her six seasons and we wish her the best," Phillips said.

Patterson is scheduled to meet with her new team on Thursday.

"Having a new coach can be stressful to student-athletes, but I know that we can work hard and have fun as we move forward," Patterson said. "My intention is to come in and prepare our players to be the best they can be. I want my teams to work and put in the effort, but I also want us to have a good time and enjoy playing the sport."