New Era for Lady Warriors Volleyball

White County High School’s new volleyball coach, Courtney Farr, brings more than a decade of experience at the club, high school, and collegiate levels to the program, along with a vision focused on long-term growth and building a strong foundation for the future.

Farr has spent the past 13 years coaching volleyball across multiple levels, including three seasons in college volleyball, 10 years at the high school level, and 12 years coaching club teams ranging from 10U through 18U athletes. Those experiences, she said, have allowed her to work with players at every stage of development — from beginners learning fundamentals to advanced athletes preparing for collegiate competition.

Throughout her coaching career, Farr has focused on building programs and developing athletes both on and off the court. During the 2024-2025 season, her high school team reached the Elite Eight of the Georgia High School Association state tournament for the first time in school history.

“That accomplishment was especially meaningful because it reflected years of hard work, commitment, and belief from our players and staff,” Farr said.

Farr’s volleyball background began long before her coaching career. She started playing at age seven and competed in both school and club volleyball throughout her youth. From ages 10 to 18, she played travel volleyball, spending most of that time with Orlando Volleyball Academy, which she said was consistently ranked among the top five clubs in the nation during those years.

After high school, Farr played three seasons at Middle Tennessee State University before finishing her collegiate career at Lee University. She said those experiences helped shape her approach to coaching and gave her a deeper understanding of what it takes to build successful programs.

Outside of athletics, Farr will also serve in the special education department at White County Middle School.

“Education has always been a major part of my career, and I am excited to work with students during the school day while also helping grow the volleyball program throughout the community,” Farr said.

The move to White County, Farr said, was driven by both family and professional goals. Her father was born and raised in Sparta and recently returned to the school system, giving her an opportunity to reconnect with a community she said has always felt like home.

“I spent many summers here growing up, and White County has always felt like home,” Farr said.

She also said she sees significant potential in White County volleyball and believes the same competitiveness and work ethic that have fueled success in other girls athletics programs can help volleyball grow as well.

Heading into her first season, Farr said her initial focus will be establishing the culture and expectations she wants the program to reflect moving forward.

“My primary goal in year one is to establish a strong foundation,” Farr said. “That includes creating a culture built on accountability, discipline, hard work, and pride in representing White County.”

Farr added that success will not be measured solely by wins and losses, but also by the growth of the team, the way players compete, and the level of commitment athletes develop toward the program. She also hopes to strengthen the connection between youth volleyball, middle school programs, and the high school level in order to create more consistency in player development.

Assistant coaches have not yet officially been selected, though Farr said those decisions will be finalized after completing current school-year responsibilities.

Looking further ahead, Farr said her long-term vision is to build White County into one of the premier volleyball programs in Tennessee through a strong developmental pipeline and consistent instruction from youth leagues through the high school level.

“Year by year, I want us to take measurable steps toward competing for district and regional championships and, ultimately, making deep runs in the state tournament,” Farr said. “The ultimate goal is to position White County as a legitimate contender for a state championship while developing young women who take pride in being part of the program.”

Farr said coaching is ultimately about more than wins and losses, adding that she hopes to help student-athletes grow into confident and resilient young people who carry lessons learned through sports into other areas of life.

“I am honored to join the White County community and excited to invest in these student-athletes and their families,” Farr said. “White County has a strong tradition of excellence in girls athletics, particularly with the Warriorettes basketball program, and I hope to build on that tradition by helping elevate volleyball and adding to the pride that this community already has in its female athletes.”