| The Ryan Adams File |
| Coaching Experience |
| 2023-pr. |
William & Mary, Head coach |
| 2019-22 |
Lafayette, Head coach |
| 2018 |
Bucknell, Assistant coach |
| 2016-17 |
William & Mary, Assistant coach |
| 2014-15 |
Bucknell, Assistant coach |
| 2013 |
Northwestern Nazarene, Assistant coach |
| 2012 |
Idaho, Volunteer assistant |
| Playing Experience |
| 2005-08 |
Cal State Northridge |
| Coaching Awards |
| 2021 |
Patriot League Coach of the Year |
Ryan Adams was named the 10th head volleyball coach in program history on January 23, 2023.
In each of his first two seasons as head coach, Adams has led W&M to eight CAA victories, the most for the program since 2009. In 2024, the Tribe ended the year with four straight wins, including a road sweep over Elon that marked the first back-to-back road conference victories for W&M in over a decade. They also swept reigning conference regular season champion Delaware for the first time since 2015.
Adams helped develop setter Amy Schwem, whose 2,124 career assists stands as second-most in program history in the current scoring era (2008-present). Schwem finished her illustrious career ranking top-10 in in assists, digs (744), and service aces (67). In addition, middle blocker Olivia Esposito set the all-time career record for hitting percentage (.329).
In Adams' debut season in 2023, the Tribe finished with 13 victories, equaling the school's most in 15 years. Esposito put together a stellar season, posting 158 kills, a .367 hitting percentage, and 112 blocks en route to earning Second Team All-CAA honors. Adams earned his first win as head coach of the Tribe on opening day against Tennessee Tech at the Mountaineer Classic in Boone, North Carolina.
Adams came to Williamsburg following four years as the head coach at Lafayette College. During his tenure with the Leopards he earned multiple honors, including Patriot League Coach of the Year in 2021.
During the 2021 campaign, Adams led the team to its most conference wins in program history and highest seeding at the Patriot League Tournament. He also helped senior Leanna Deegan to lead all of Division I volleyball in kills and points per set, earning the Patriot League Player of the Year honors.
In the Covid-shortened 2021 spring season, he helped Deegan become Lafayette's first Patriot League First-Team selection since 2006.
Prior to his time at Lafayette, Adams had a pair of stints as an assistant at Bucknell from 2014-16 and in 2018. He helped the Bison rack up 21 wins, 13 in the Patriot League in his first two seasons with the team, helping Bucknell to its first winning season in nine years.
Adams coming to Williamsburg marked a reunion, as he was an assistant at William & Mary from 2016-17. During that time, he also coached the Williamsburg Volleyball 18 National Team from which 11 players went on to play in college, including five at the Division I level.
In 2017, Adams served as the assistant coach at Princess Anne High School in nearby Virginia Beach, Va. He helped guide the Cavaliers to a 27-4 record and a runner-up finish in the Virginia State Tournament. Along with his assistant coach duties, Adams was the head coach of East Coast Volleyball Club 16 Travel which went 31-16 under his guidance and ranked second in the Old Dominion Region.
Adams began his coaching career as a volunteer assistant at the University of Idaho in 2012 before moving to Northwestern Nazarene in 2013. A native of California, Adams graduated from Cal State Northridge in 2009 with a degree in urban studies and planning. He earned Academic All-American honors in 2008.
