Coaching Staff
Erica Miller
Varsity Community Coach
About Erica:
Grew up in Dayton, OH area & played 4 years of vb at Butler High School, MVP and Team Captain. Also lettered in basketball.
4-2-4 College Transfer student--freshman year at Wichita State University, sophomore year at Sinclair Community College, and finished as a 6 rotation OH at Wright State University; Academic All-American at both Sinclair & Wright State
Assistant Coach, Auburn University
Founding Board Member of A5 Volleyball Club in 2005
Head Coach A5 16-1 (2x) & 17-1; led first Atlanta team to Nationals in the Open division and won Atlanta's first National Championship in any division
Joined Pope Coaching staff in 2021. Two year record of 84-13, Region Champs in 21 & 22, State Champs in 2022.
Named 6A Region 7 Coach of the Year, Cobb County COY and AVCA Region 3 COY in 2022
Wife of 23 years to Benj (her favorite assistant coach!) and mother of 4 (Linkin-14, Kenyon-12, Anthem-10, Torin-8)
Katie Kirian
Varsity Head Staff Coach
About Katie:
Grew up in Ypsilanti, Michigan and played varsity vb for 3 years. Also lettered in softball and basketball. Awarded the school’s Female Athlete of the Year scholarship her senior year.
Played club/AAU vb for Washtenaw Area Volleyball Association (WAVA) for 8 years.
Attended Grand Valley State University and has been teaching special education for 18 years - 3 of which have been here at Pope High School.
Previously worked at Berkeley High School in South Carolina for 6 years where she coached JV volleyball. Also coached JV basketball at Hanahan High School.
Spent 6 years with Lexington Two Schools in South Carolina where she was awarded Teacher of the Year in 2015.
Lives in Canton and loves to hike, travel and spend time with her dog Maisy.
Courtney Kopsie
JV Head Community Coach
Courtney played varsity volleyball all 4 years of high school and was the captain the last 3 years. She received several county and state awards and recognitions, including senior Allstars. She played for A5 and went on to play at West Point. She studied Kinesiology with a focus in Exercise Science. Since then she has coached club teams of all ages in Texas and around the metro Atlanta area. She currently works for Wellstar Health system as the Program lead for their Employee Wellness program. She has been married to her husband Josh, for 10 years and has 3 children, Kennedy, Cooper, and Caden.
Christine Callaway
JV Assistant Coach
Christine played varsity volleyball for 4 years in high school and served as captain of the team her senior year. She played club volleyball at Tsunami and A5, then went on to play in college at Oglethorpe University. Christine received a bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University and a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Clayton State University. Over the years, she has coached high school and club volleyball across the metro Atlanta area. Christine is a Licensed Professional Counselor and currently owns and operates a private practice. In addition, she works for Wellstar Health System as a Well-Being Coaching Consultant. Christine is a Marietta local where she resides with her husband Seth, and her two children, Macklin and Everleigh.
Micah Mitchell
Junior Varsity Staff Coach
About Micah:
Grew up in Brooks, GA and attended school in Griffin, GA. Played both baseball and basketball, spending most free time training for these sports.
Attended Kennesaw State University for college.
Has taught at Pope for 4 years. Currently teaches Special Education.
Has coached Girls Lacrosse at Pope for 4 years
In his first year as Executive Head Coach of the Girls Lax Program.
Coached 9th grade basketball for 3 years and football for 2 years.
Enjoys hanging with friends and watching sports.
Laura Ann O'Sullivan
Juniors Director & Greyhound Training Ground Coach
Coaching Experience
2018-2021: A5 Volleyball Club - Head Coach 15-2
2021 USAV National Champtionship (USA division)
2021 AAU National Championship (15-Premier)
2017-2018: A5 Volleyball Club - Head Coach 15-3
2016: A5 Volleyball Club - Head Coach 14-4
2015-2016: Reinhardt University Assistant Volleyball Coach
2013-2016: Columbus State University, Assistant Volleyball Coach
Playing Experience
Mars Hill College Volleyball team member (2009 – 2011)
Led South Atlantic Conference in service aces (2009)
High Point University Volleyball team member (2008 – 2009)
West Henderson (NC) High School Volleyball varsity team member (2005 – 2007)
LA lives in East Cobb with her husband, Sean (who is also the Pope Football Head Coach!), and her son, Patrick, 2.
Leigh Hudson
Juniors Navy Coach
About Leigh:
Coached and taught health/PE in Fulton County for 32 years before retiring in 2010.
Spent 20 years as part of the Riverwood High School vb program before retiring in 2018.
Led Riverwood to 3 consecutive State Championship appearances as Head Coach, winning the State Championship in 2001.
Became part of the Pope High School JV coaching staff in 2018 and helped to guide the JV team to the County Championship in 2021.
Stepped away from coaching in 2022 and stayed involved in Pope’s vb program as a liaison between coaches and officials and as home match official scorekeeper.
Married to Keith Hudson for 39 years. Proud mom of KeLeigh and Kacie Hudson- both inductees into Pope’s Wall of Fame.
Allison Asbrock
Juniors White Coach
About Allison:
Coached Pope Juniors White team in 2022
Coached Pope Juniors Sky team in 2021, 2020 & 2019
Kacey Simon
Juniors Sky Coach
About Kacey:
Has been around volleyball since middle school & is super passionate about this sport.
Coaching Experience:
A5 Volleyball Club, Alpharetta, GA
2017-18: 12-4 Assistant Coach
2018-19: 11-3 Assistant Coach
2019-2020: 11-3 Assistant Coach
2020-2021: 13-6 Head Coach
2021: AAU Assistant Coach 15-4
2021-2022: 13-4 Head Coach
2022-2023: 13-4 Head Coach
North Cobb High School
2019 & 2020 Middle School “B” Team Head coach
2021 Middle School “A” Team Head coach
Enjoys taking her dogs on walks and doing yoga
Jeff Linde
Juniors Grey Coach
About Jeff:
Has coached in the Pope Juniors program for the past four years.
Really enjoys teaching kids who are new to volleyball.
His love for volleyball started in college at Penn State and continued as his daughter played the sport from 4th grade through senior year of high school.
Without a doubt, his favorite memory is his daughter’s Pope team winning the 2018 Georgia State Championship.
Ryan Pope
Pups Head Coach
About Ryan:
Played on Pope Varsity for the past two years, winning a State Championship in 2022.
Decided to serve the Program as the Pups Head Coach for her senior year. We are so lucky to have her!
Played club at Cobb Atlanta and now is loving the Beach game at S3
Assisted with the Pups team in 2022
Loves working with our youngest players at summer camp and during the fall seasons