FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Volley Hogs will have a new face on the bench for the 2024 season as Jordan Childs has been named assistant coach, Jason Watson announced Thursday.

Childs comes to Arkansas after one year at Emory University, several seasons of club experience, and time in prep coaching.

“Our program is thrilled to have Jordan join us. She is remarkably prepared for this opportunity,” head coach Jason Watson said. “A relentless learner with a clarity of thought, she is going to enhance our current staff. I look forward to working alongside her to further our team.”

As an assistant coach at Emory in 2023, Childs had both coaching and operations responsibilities for the Eagles. The team had a fantastic season with a 26-3 record, the most wins since 2019, and built a 14-0 start, a new program record. Emory won the University Athletic Association (UAA) title with an undefeated record of 7-0 and finished as runners-up at the UAA conference tournament. In the Division III NCAA Tournament, the Eagles made it to the Sweet 16. Emory was ranked in the top 10 of the AVCA poll in 10 of 11 weeks, in the top five in five weeks, and rose as high as No. 4.

Four Emory players received All-America nods, in addition to four AVCA Region 6 First Team honors, four All-UAA First Team nods, eight UAA Athlete of the Week recognitions and two Mount Berry Regional All-Tournament Team selections. Childs also helped coach libero Deborah Hong to Region 6 Player of the Year honors and was led by Region 6 Coach of the Year Brianna Jones.

In addition to her time at Emory, Childs brings a wealth of club coaching insight to The Hill. She’s worked as an assistant with A5 Volleyball Club in Roswell, Ga. since 2021 with 16-, 17-, and 18-levels, and was named the League One Volleyball Coach of the Month in May of 2023. With A5, she’s assisted in numerous camps, clinics, and classes.

Childs also worked with North Georgia Volleyball and Lanier Volleyball Clubs as a master coach, specializing in skill development, leading camp planning, ideating practice plans, and holding private lessons.

While working on her master’s degree, Childs was the head varsity volleyball coach and North Oconee High School from 2021-2023, where she also taught. While at the helm, the Titans broke 21 school records, saw 11 athletes earn All-Area honors, and racked up 13 postseason awards. Childs was an Oconee County Head Coach Honorable Mention twice and led her team to the Georgia state playoffs two seasons in a row. 

Childs also coached and taught at Chestatee High School from 2019-2021, where she worked with both the varsity volleyball and junior varsity soccer teams.

“Thank you to Jason and Kevin Trainor for the opportunity to be a part of the Arkansas volleyball coaching staff. The support and community that the University of Arkansas offers is truly unmatched,” Childs said. “I am excited to work alongside top caliber staff members, build relationships with athletes, and become a part of the Hog Family. I am looking forward to this next chapter on The Hill. Wooo Pig!”

In her playing career, Childs was a six-rotation outside hitter for Truett-McConnell University from 2016-2019. She was the team’s stat leader for 30+ matches, was a four-time NAIA All-Academic Team and Leadership Scholar and served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Council for three years.

Childs graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Truett-McConnell in 2019 and earned her master’s in Kinesiology and Coaching Education from Georgia Southern in 2023.