| Title: | Head Coach, 13th Year |
| Phone: | 706-667-4766 |
| Email: | squarles@augusta.edu |
Starting her 13th season in 2021-22 at the helm of the Jaguar Volleyball program, Sharon Quarles has taken a losing volleyball team into the NCAA postseason and to conference and regional recognition.
Quarles, who was named the eighth head coach in school history on April 23, 2009 by Augusta University Director of Athletics Clint Bryant, led the Jags to 22 victories and to the second-winningest season in school history in her first year. Quarles is 457-300 (.603) after 22 seasons of coaching in the NCAA and she is 225-165 (.577) entering her 12th season in 2021.
“After an intensive national search, we were very fortunate to be able to attract a volleyball coach the caliber of Coach Quarles,” Director of Athletics Clint Bryant said. “She has experience not only in coaching, but in athletic administration as well. We look forward to her moving our volleyball program to the next level.”
In 2020-21 (during a shortened pandemic season), Quarles led the Jaguars to their third consecutive Peach Belt Conference Tournament Championship. In 2021, senior Kylie Martin was named All-Conference and PBC Tournament MVP. Senior Chloe Allen was named an All-Conference Selection. Holland Marton and Samantha Zittrauer were also named to the PBC All-Tournament Team.
In 2019, The Jaguars won their second consecutive PBC Conference Tournament Championship and reached the NCAA Tournament for the third time. AU enjoyed a 29-win season, the best in school history, while reaching the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA tournament. Junior Nicolette Ramos was named PBC Tournament MVP. Chloe Allen, Jessica Hedrick, Kylie Martin, and Nicolette Ramos were all awared All-Conference Honors. Five different players were named to the PBC Team of Academic Distinction.
Quarles and the Jaguars won their first ever Peach Belt Conference Tournament Championship in 2018 and reached the NCAA Tournament for the second time ever. In 2018, AU enjoyed its fifth 20-win season and posted the second-most wins ever with a 24-8 record. 2018 Senior McKenzey Beck was named All-Region, All-Conference, the PBC Tournament MVP, and had the second most triple-doubles in the NCAA. 2018 Sophomore Chloe Allen picked up an All-Region honorable mention and was also All-PBC.
Augusta reached the 2017 PBC Tournament semifinals as the fourth seed. In 2017, Beck led the nation in triple-doubles (12) and was named All-Region and All-Conference. Savannah Gonzales was named to the 2018 PBC All-Tournament team.
In 2014, the Jags posted the best record in program history at 27-9 overall and 13-5 in the PBC. Quarles was voted as the 2014 PBC Coach of the Year on Nov. 14, after she had the most successful season any coach has ever had with the team. The Jags had two seven-game winning streaks and one nine-game winning streak during the 2014 season – highlighted by their 24th win on Nov. 5 against the Georgia College Bobcats, surpassing the previous mark of 23 wins set in the 1995 season.
In just her first season, Quarles orchestrated the second-biggest, one-year turnaround in school history while tutoring Jessica Howard, the first All-American in school history and a three-time, All-Peach Belt Conference selection.
After 27 wins in 2010 and 2011, the Jags just missed an NCAA Tournament berth in 2012, posting a 19-15 mark while earning the program's first-ever region ranking. In 2013 she guided junior Kristen Koch to a Peach Belt All-Conference.
Quarles spent the three previous seasons as head coach at Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, N.H. She posted three 18-win seasons and led the Ravens to a 54-41 record and to their highest Northeast-10 Conference finish in school history.
Prior to Franklin Pierce, Quarles served five seasons as head coach at West Chester University, an NCAA Division II program which competes in the highly competitive Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. (PSAC). She compiled a 99-59 (.627) overall record at West Chester, including three 20-win seasons and a 31-19 (.620) clip in PSAC play. Quarles was twice named PSAC Coach of the Year and her recruiting efforts produced the PSAC Rookie of the Year each of the last three seasons.
In 2002, West Chester posted a 23-11 overall record and a share of the PSAC Eastern Division title for the first time in program history. The Golden Rams finished over .500 in each of Quarles’s five seasons at the helm. The team also carried a 3.318 cumulative grade point average in 2005.
Prior to West Chester, Quarles spent four years as head volleyball coach at Div. III University of Maine-Machias. She also served the University as Director of Athletics for one year. Quarles led the Clippers to a 79-35 (.693) record and back-to-back Maine Athletic Conference titles in 1999 and 2000. Quarles received NAIA Region X Coach of the Year honors in 1999 and was a two-time State of Maine Coach of the Year. Her team received the State of Maine Sportsmanship Award in 1999 as well.
She has worked in varying capacities with the United States Olympic Committee in Colorado Springs, Colo., the University of Colorado-The Springs, Colorado College and The Colorado Springs School.
Quarles earned her Master’s Degree in sports administration from the University of Northern Colorado in 1995 and her undergraduate degree in exercise sport and sciences from the University of Florida in 1993. She also attended Winthrop University for two years, where she was a member of the Eagles volleyball program as a freshman and sophomore, before transferring to Florida.
Formerly Sharon Bonaventure, she married John Quarles on July 19, 2014 in Aiken, S.C.
QUARLES' COACHING HISTORY
- Augusta University (2009-present) 182-154 (.542)
- Franklin Pierce University (2006-2008) 54-41 (.568)
- West Chester University (2001-2005) 99-59 (.627)
- University of Maine-Machias (1997-2000) 79-35 (.693)
