NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Lipscomb University Director of Athletics Philip Hutcheson announced on Tuesday the hiring of Sarah Baldwin as the new head coach of the volleyball program. 

She becomes the second head coach of the LUV Volleyball program in its Division I era and the fourth since the program's inception in 1994. 

A former national champion as a student-athlete at The University of Texas at Austin in 2012, Baldwin spent the last three seasons (2023-25) as the top assistant for the Bisons and was elevated to the program's recruiting coordinator last season. 

"We are excited to name Sarah Baldwin as the next head coach of Lipscomb Volleyball. Over the past two and a half weeks, we had a tremendous number of quality candidates express interest in the job, and we visited with coaches from all over the country as we looked for the best person to lead our program. In our conversations over the last few weeks, and during her last three seasons here, Sarah proved herself not only an exceptional volleyball mind, recruiter and coach, but more importantly, she embodied the mission-fit and relational depth that we value most at Lipscomb," said Hutcheson. 

"It doesn't take much time observing her with the team, parents, recruits and volleyball community to be able to tell that Sarah is admired and appreciated by them. She has been an integral part of our program, and her commitment to leading with joy, discipline and faith ensures that our program will continue to compete at the highest levels while remaining true to the higher calling at the heart of Lipscomb Athletics. Sarah is the exact right choice to continue elevating our program on and off the court, and I'm looking forward to working alongside Sarah as she helps write the next chapters of Lipscomb University Volleyball's story."

During her time as an assistant, the Bisons have posted a 54-32 record, including back-to-back appearances in the Atlantic Sun Tournament Championship match in 2023 and 2024. 

"I am grateful to President Dr. Candice McQueen, Athletic Director Philip Hutcheson and the Lipscomb Athletics leadership for their trust and support, and to Brandon Rosenthal for 25 years of dedicated stewardship that positioned this program to be where it is today. It is a true privilege to carry the LUV torch forward, taking this program into its next chapter," said Baldwin. 

The Kailua, Hawai'i native made the transition to Nashville in 2023 after spending the last two seasons as an assistant coach at the College of Holy Cross (Mass.) and five at Southwestern University (Texas).

At Holy Cross during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, she led recruiting and operations, coaching pins and liberos. 

Baldwin began her coaching career at Southwestern from 2016-2021. Serving as the top assistant for the Pirates, she was also the recruiting coordinator and oversaw operations. In her first season in 2016, she was a part of a third-place finish at the NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship. 

Prior to her time at Southwestern, Baldwin had an illustrious playing career at the University of Texas at Austin, where she was a four-year starter, primarily as the libero. Totaling 1,333 digs for the sixth-most in program history, she was the team leader in the category in three of her four years for the Longhorns. 

A three-time Big 12 All-Academic First Team honoree, Baldwin won three conference championships (2011, 2012, 2013), made three NCAA Semifinal appearances (2010, 2012, 2013) and captured the NCAA Division I National Championship in 2012.

"Continuing the highly esteemed Lipscomb legacy as the next Head Coach means elevating this volleyball program with purpose, competing for championships, winning the right way and developing young women leaders for life," said Baldwin. 

"Accepting this role is both an honor and a great responsibility I embrace. I am committed to leading with discipline, faith and a relentless expectation of excellence for our student-athletes, our university, and the values that define Lipscomb."

Baldwin graduated from the University of Texas in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in sociology and an education minor. Formerly known as Sarah Palmer, she is married to her husband, Theo.

THE BALDWIN FILE

2026-present	Head Volleyball Coach, Lipscomb University
2023-25	Assistant Volleyball Coach, Lipscomb University
2021-22	Assistant Volleyball Coach, College of the Holy Cross
2016-21	Assistant Volleyball Coach, Southwestern University