Barton hires former King setter Deppe to be interim head coach

Photo courtesy of King athletics

One of the top setters in King’s history will take over another ConfCarolinas men’s volleyball perennial powerhouse.

Barton announced Wednesday that it hired J.T.Deppe to be its interim head coach for the upcoming season.

Deppe concluded his five-year college career in 2022 with the third-most career assists in program history. The setter also helped the Tornado win back-to-back ConfCarolinas regular season championships in 2018 and 2019 and reach the NCAA Tournament in 2018.

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Deppe while playing at King served as a volunteer assistant coach. The Wisconsin native after graduating most recently was a coach for Milwaukee Sting volleyball club and interned for the Green Bay Packers.

“I am pleased coach Deppe will assume the leadership of our men’s volleyball program,” athletics director Todd Wilkinson said in a statement. “He brings a passion for the sport, a strong worth ethic and most importantly cares about our players on the team. J.T. will do a fantastic job and we are excited he wants to be here.”

Barton under coach Jeff Lennox won ConfCarolinas championships in 2017 and 2019 and was on pace to win another conference title in 2020 before the season was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Bulldogs, though, ended last season winless and lost in the opening round of the ConfCarolinas Tournament.

“I look forward to working with them to guide these student-athletes to success both on and off the court,” Deppe said in a statement. “We are eager to get this program back on track. This is a wonderful blessing.”

Deppe will be the third head coach in Barton’s program history. Lennox following a decade coaching the program stepped down in the fall.