The Winston-Salem State University Department of Athletics named Christa Brown head volleyball coach in March 2025. A two-time CIAA volleyball champion as a student-athlete at WSSU, Brown returned to her alma mater in the summer of 2024 as the interim head coach after serving as a volunteer assistant coach during the 2023 season.
Brown made an immediate impact in her first full season leading the Lady Rams. During the 2025-26 season, she guided WSSU to a 16-10 overall record and a 13-3 mark in CIAA play, earning the title of CIAA Co-Southern Division Champions. Brown was named the CIAA Volleyball Coach of the Year, while the Rams also produced the CIAA Offensive Player of the Year, three All-CIAA selections, one D2CCA All-Atlantic Region selection and two CSC Academic All-District honorees.
During the 2024-25 season, the Rams finished 14-11 overall and 11-5 in CIAA play. In her first season leading the Rams, Brown coached freshman Zoe Chesson to All-CIAA Second Team honors. Three Rams — Brooke Norwood, Lexis Tatum and Janai Tillman — were named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) All-District Team. Brown also helped coach senior Brooke Norwood to the milestone of 1,000 career assists. The Rams advanced to the CIAA Quarterfinals and earned the Freddie Vaughn Team Academic Award.
Prior to being named head coach, Brown served as a volunteer assistant during the 2023 CIAA campaign, where she played an instrumental role in recruitment, skill development, practice planning and scouting reports. Her knowledge of NCAA Division II rules and regulations helped ensure the program operated within conference and institutional compliance standards. Brown also assisted with community engagement and helped foster a supportive and competitive team culture aligned with the mission, values and goals of WSSU and its Department of Athletics.
“I am very excited and honored to be named the interim Head Coach for the WSSU volleyball program,” said Brown following her return to WSSU. “It is an incredible feeling to come back home to the place that poured into me and where I experienced so much success as a player. I was truly fortunate to play under such a wonderful coach and learn so many valuable lessons on what it takes to win championships and be a RAM.”
Before returning to WSSU, Brown served as a coach with Triad Elite Volleyball Club, working with several regional and national teams. She was the head coach for the 15s National Team, which ranked among the top teams in the East Division, and served as a trainer for the club’s 14-17 regional and national teams during the 2023-24 season. Brown previously served as head coach of the 14s regional team during the 2022-23 season and the 16s regional team. She coached the Carolina Regional Champions in 2022 and served as an assistant coach with the 15s regional team from 2021-23. During the 2020-21 season, Brown served as a skills coach and head coach for A2 Volleyball Club in the OVR region.
As a player at Winston-Salem State, Brown was a three-time CIAA Player of the Week and earned numerous conference honors. She was named to the 2015 CIAA Rookie Team and CIAA All-Academic Team while helping the Lady Rams capture the 2015 CIAA Championship. In 2016, she served as the volleyball representative for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and was named to the All-CIAA Preseason Team. In 2017, Brown earned All-CIAA Second Team honors, helped WSSU win another CIAA Championship and was selected to the All-CIAA Tournament Team.
Brown graduated from Winston-Salem State University in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Marketing. She is currently pursuing her master's degree in Business Administration at WSSU.
A proud WSSU alumna and former Lady Ram standout, Brown continues to build upon the championship tradition she experienced as a student-athlete while developing student-athletes both on and off the court and emphasizing academic achievement, leadership and excellence.
