Troy University Athletics
Volleyball
Kirkpatrick, Sonny
Sonny Kirkpatrick
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- skirkpatrick@troy.edu
- Phone:
- 3926
Elijah "Sonny" Kirkpatrick is in his sixth season at the helm of the Troy University volleyball program, after he became the eighth head coach in program history in 2006.
In his first five seasons, Kirkpatrick has posted 61 victories as the head man in Troy while narrowly missing the Sun Belt Tournament on three different occasions.
During his first year at Troy, Kirkpatrick led the Trojans to a 9-24 overall record with seven newcomers on the team. The 2006 squad featured only four returning players from the 2005 team.
In 2007, Kirkpatrick led the Trojans to a 16-17 overall record and a 7-10 record in Sun Belt Conference play. The Trojans narrowly missed qualifying for the Sun Belt Conference Tournament at the conclusion of the season, finishing ninth overall - the team’s best finish since joining the conference.
In 2008, the Trojans assembled a 13-19 record under Kirkpatrick’s direction. The Trojans finished sixth in the Sun Belt’s East Division with a record of 4-13 in conference matches. The Trojans once again finished one game out of eighth place, the final qualifying spot for the conference tournament.
The 2009 season saw the Trojans climb to fourth in the East Division with a final Sun Belt record of 7-10. However, Troy suffered the same fate as the two previous seasons, this time finishing just half a game out of the eighth and final spot in the Sun Belt Tournament.
During that 2009 campaign, Kirkpatrick saw one of his players make history as Meghan Gilroy became the first Trojan to earn All-Sun Belt honors in the program’s history. The senior middle hitter was named to the Second Team after finishing the regular season second in the Sun Belt in kills per set at 4.23.
Gilroy, part of Kirkpatrick’s first recruiting class at Troy finished her career with 1,447 kills, the third most in school history. She also finished her career with 299 total blocks, the most ever by a Trojan.
In 2010, the Trojans posted an 11-22 mark including a 3-13 showing in Sun Belt play.
Kirkpatrick served as the head volleyball coach at Francis Marion University, a powerhouse in the Peach Belt Conference and at the NCAA Division II level. In six seasons as the Patriots’ head coach, Kirkpatrick took his program from the bottom of the conference standings to a league championship in his final season, with a 29-11 record. That same year, the team qualified for the NCAA South Region.
In 2004, Kirkpatrick was named Peach Belt Conference Coach of the Year, after leading his team to a 21-14 record.
He compiled a 95-115 mark at Francis Marion, and owns a career coaching record of 255-235 in 15 years as a head coach, including eight seasons at his alma mater, Lycoming College.
The York, Pa., native’s tenure at Lycoming (Williamsport, Pa.) included a pair of trips to the NCAA Division III National Tournament in 1997 and 1998. Between 1995 and 1999, Lycoming posted a 27-1 mark in Freedom League competition, within the Middle Atlantic States Collegiate Athletic Conference (MAC), the oldest and largest NCAA Division III conference.
Kirkpatrick was twice named the Freedom League Coach of the Year, in 1997 and 1998, while his teams won the league championships from 1995 through 1999.
Kirkpatrick earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Lycoming in 1991. Before taking over the Warrior volleyball program, he served as an assistant men’s soccer coach in 1991. He also worked as a quality control analyst at Lonza, Inc., in Williamsport from 1991 to 2000.
Kirkpatrick and his wife, Kathy, have two daughters, Emma and Oliva Grace.
In his first five seasons, Kirkpatrick has posted 61 victories as the head man in Troy while narrowly missing the Sun Belt Tournament on three different occasions.
During his first year at Troy, Kirkpatrick led the Trojans to a 9-24 overall record with seven newcomers on the team. The 2006 squad featured only four returning players from the 2005 team.
In 2007, Kirkpatrick led the Trojans to a 16-17 overall record and a 7-10 record in Sun Belt Conference play. The Trojans narrowly missed qualifying for the Sun Belt Conference Tournament at the conclusion of the season, finishing ninth overall - the team’s best finish since joining the conference.
In 2008, the Trojans assembled a 13-19 record under Kirkpatrick’s direction. The Trojans finished sixth in the Sun Belt’s East Division with a record of 4-13 in conference matches. The Trojans once again finished one game out of eighth place, the final qualifying spot for the conference tournament.
The 2009 season saw the Trojans climb to fourth in the East Division with a final Sun Belt record of 7-10. However, Troy suffered the same fate as the two previous seasons, this time finishing just half a game out of the eighth and final spot in the Sun Belt Tournament.
During that 2009 campaign, Kirkpatrick saw one of his players make history as Meghan Gilroy became the first Trojan to earn All-Sun Belt honors in the program’s history. The senior middle hitter was named to the Second Team after finishing the regular season second in the Sun Belt in kills per set at 4.23.
Gilroy, part of Kirkpatrick’s first recruiting class at Troy finished her career with 1,447 kills, the third most in school history. She also finished her career with 299 total blocks, the most ever by a Trojan.
In 2010, the Trojans posted an 11-22 mark including a 3-13 showing in Sun Belt play.
Kirkpatrick served as the head volleyball coach at Francis Marion University, a powerhouse in the Peach Belt Conference and at the NCAA Division II level. In six seasons as the Patriots’ head coach, Kirkpatrick took his program from the bottom of the conference standings to a league championship in his final season, with a 29-11 record. That same year, the team qualified for the NCAA South Region.
In 2004, Kirkpatrick was named Peach Belt Conference Coach of the Year, after leading his team to a 21-14 record.
He compiled a 95-115 mark at Francis Marion, and owns a career coaching record of 255-235 in 15 years as a head coach, including eight seasons at his alma mater, Lycoming College.
The York, Pa., native’s tenure at Lycoming (Williamsport, Pa.) included a pair of trips to the NCAA Division III National Tournament in 1997 and 1998. Between 1995 and 1999, Lycoming posted a 27-1 mark in Freedom League competition, within the Middle Atlantic States Collegiate Athletic Conference (MAC), the oldest and largest NCAA Division III conference.
Kirkpatrick was twice named the Freedom League Coach of the Year, in 1997 and 1998, while his teams won the league championships from 1995 through 1999.
Kirkpatrick earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Lycoming in 1991. Before taking over the Warrior volleyball program, he served as an assistant men’s soccer coach in 1991. He also worked as a quality control analyst at Lonza, Inc., in Williamsport from 1991 to 2000.
Kirkpatrick and his wife, Kathy, have two daughters, Emma and Oliva Grace.
Behind the Wall - S10, E3
Thursday, September 18
PODCAST - Kaleb Canales
Wednesday, September 17
Gerad Parker Press Conference - Buffalo Game
Monday, September 15
Troy Football Press Conference (Players) - Buffalo Game
Monday, September 15
