Gamecock great to lead Midlands high school volleyball program
After almost a decade in college coaching, Shonda Wallace is headed back to the high school ranks.
The former University of South Carolina volleyball standout was introduced Thursday as the new coach of Gray Collegiate volleyball team. Wallace replaces Penny Pegler.
This will be Wallace’s second high school coaching job. She was head coach at Greenville High School from 2009-11, a job she managed during her off time while playing professional volleyball.
Wallace has been on the South Carolina volleyball coaching staff since 2014 but stepped down at the end of the season in November.
“The opportunity kind of presented itself. Me and Brandon (husband) sat down and talked about what the next five years of our life would look like. And a change of pace would be kind of nice,” Wallace said. “We’ve got two little kids at home and they are getting into extracurricular activities. And as a mom, you want to be there for those kinds of things. There were some other opportunities, but this seemed to be the best fit.”
Wallace is one of the most decorated volleyball players in Gamecock history and one of just three volleyball players to be inducted into USC’s Hall of Fame. She also was the school’s first All-American selection when she earned honorable mention honors in 2016.
Wallace, a three-time all-Southeastern Conference selection, finished her career ranked first in kills per set (4.26), points per set (4.87) and attacks (4,181) and second in kills (1,775). She still holds the single-season records for kills (703), kills per set (5.76) and attacks (1,541).
Wallace spent eight seasons playing overseas in Spain, Puerto Rico and France before landing back at USC.
At Gray, Wallace joins husband Brandon, a former USC basketball standout. Brandon Wallace was an assistant for Gray men’s basketball team before taking over as head coach of the girls program this year. The War Eagles won their first girls basketball state championship earlier this month.
Now, Shonda hopes to do the same with the Gray volleyball program and mentioned establishing a dynasty in her remarks at Thursday’s press conference. The War Eagles have won multiple region titles and advanced to the 2A Upper State championship this season before losing to Liberty.
“I’m going to have to get in the gym first to see what our team looks like,” Wallace said. “I know they have had success winning region titles and making it to the Upper State.
“But being able to get in the gym and see what we need to work on, what system we need to run will help determine how we are going to get over that hump.”
Wallace was one of two new coaches introduced on Thursday. Madison Cornwell was announced as the school’s first girls tennis coach. The War Eagles are adding girls tennis in the fall for their 12th sport.
Cornwell recently graduated from Newberry College, where she was a member of the Wolves’ tennis team.
