Chattanooga State Community College recently added two new volleyball coaches to the athletic coaching staff. Kristy Lenoir joins as the team’s new head coach and Zach Forgani joins as the assistant coach, replacing the program’s founding coaches, Janet Tate and Robin Moore who both retired earlier this year.

“Zach and I are looking forward to building a winning tradition here at Chattanooga State,” states Coach Lenoir. “We are excited to meet our team and to get in the gym and start working. Janet and Robin laid a good foundation, and we're excited to build on that.”

Both new coaches bring a wealth of experience to their positions. Coach Lenoir attended UT Knoxville on a full athletic scholarship where she was a four-year starter for the Lady Vols, and named ALL-SEC and ALL-SEC Academic. Coaching at local middle and high schools in the area for the past 19 years, she has coached multiple All-State performers, led back-to-back state appearances while at Boyd Buchanan, and was selected as the Tennessee All-Star coach in 2008. Prior to accepting the position as head coach at Chattanooga State, Lenoir served as East Hamilton’s head coach, a position she held for seven years.

Assistant Coach Zach Forgani, also a UT Knoxville graduate, has coached indoor, beach and club volleyball teams at Christian Academy of Knoxville, UT Knoxville, Lincoln Memorial University, Maryville College, Bearden High School, and East Hamilton. Many of his players have excelled in blocks, digs and as liberos with numerous rankings at the regional, state and national levels. For the past two years, Forgani has assisted with the Grace Baptist Academy volleyball program.

“I have known Coach Lenoir for years, and have had the pleasure of working with her in the past, so when she asked if I would be her assistant, I had to accept,” says Forgani.

ChattState’s volleyball season has been postponed until spring, but both coaches are using the delay as an opportunity. “We have two returners and 11 newcomers. The fact that our season has been bumped back to the spring semester should work in our favor giving us time to build team unity,” remarked Lenoir. “I look forward to many winning seasons here at ChattState!”