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HAMILTON — Sean Pendergest helped build the foundation of Badin High School’s boys volleyball program as a player. Now, the 2021 graduate has been selected to lead the Rams’ next chapter.
Badin announced Pendergest as its new head boys volleyball coach, turning to a former team captain and current faculty member to guide a program seeking to return to the championship level it reached just a few years ago.
Pendergest inherits a program that won the Division II state championship in the 2021-22 season with a 26-2 record but has been unable to duplicate that success in recent years. The Rams finished 15-9 in 2024, 13-10 in 2025 and 12-10 this past season.
“I am incredibly excited and honored to lead the Badin men’s volleyball program,” Pendergest said. “It was important to me to coach where I work because I already have relationships with these young men. Through my role at Badin, I’ve had the opportunity to know each of our players beyond athletics, and now I get to continue building those relationships as their coach. Volleyball is important, but our mission is about much more than what happens on the court.”
Pendergest is no stranger to the Badin community. As the school’s Mission and Ministry Assistant, he works with students across all grade levels through campus ministry and Christian service. His responsibilities include leading school Masses and prayer services, coordinating retreats and retreat leader training, overseeing after-school service clubs, mentoring juniors through Relationship Hours and accompanying students on summer service trips.
Those daily interactions have already helped him develop meaningful relationships with many of the players he will now coach.
Pendergest began playing volleyball in the eighth grade before earning a varsity spot as a freshman. He remained on the varsity roster throughout high school and served as team captain during his senior season while helping lead the Rams to the program’s first state Final Four appearance.
His vision for the program is built around five core principles: resilience, discipline, leadership, character and competitive toughness.
“Our players will have high expectations both on and off the court,” Pendergest said. “High school athletics provide incredible opportunities for growth, but success in the classroom is just as important. We will develop disciplined student-athletes who are prepared for whatever challenges they face. Our coaching staff will be committed to developing these young men while maintaining open communication with our players and families.”
Returning Badin to championship contention is among his top priorities.
“I want to return Badin volleyball to the level of excellence it has achieved in the past,” he said. “That starts by controlling what we can control and competing to win the GCL. Our expectation is to compete for conference championships, reach the regional tournament every year beginning with year one, and earn a State Final Four appearance within five seasons.”
Pendergest also wants to elevate the profile of the program throughout the school.
“I want volleyball at Badin to be as big as any sport on campus,” he said. “We want students packing Mulcahey Gym, fans following the program, and a culture where every opponent knows they’re going to be in for a battle. We’ll take every practice and every match one at a time, never overlooking an opponent and always leaving everything on the floor.”
Because he works inside the school each day, Pendergest views coaching as an extension of his role as an educator and mentor.
“Being able to encourage our players in the classroom, help them through challenges, and be another resource for them is incredibly important to me,” he said. “Coaching is about building relationships that extend far beyond volleyball.”
He is eager to experience his first match as the Rams’ head coach.
“I can’t wait for our first home game,” Pendergest said. “I know Mulcahey Gym will be electric. The fans, the music, the energy—it’s going to be a nostalgic experience being back in that gym, this time as the head coach.”
His long-term vision extends beyond championships.
“I hope that three years from now people are proud of Badin boys volleyball,” Pendergest said. “I want our community rallying around our team as we make deep tournament runs and create a program that attracts talented student-athletes and enthusiastic fans. We want weekday matches to become events that people look forward to attending.”
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Badin announced Pendergest as its new head boys volleyball coach, turning to a former team captain and current faculty member to guide a program seeking to return to the championship level it reached just a few years ago.
Pendergest inherits a program that won the Division II state championship in the 2021-22 season with a 26-2 record but has been unable to duplicate that success in recent years. The Rams finished 15-9 in 2024, 13-10 in 2025 and 12-10 this past season.
“I am incredibly excited and honored to lead the Badin men’s volleyball program,” Pendergest said. “It was important to me to coach where I work because I already have relationships with these young men. Through my role at Badin, I’ve had the opportunity to know each of our players beyond athletics, and now I get to continue building those relationships as their coach. Volleyball is important, but our mission is about much more than what happens on the court.”
Pendergest is no stranger to the Badin community. As the school’s Mission and Ministry Assistant, he works with students across all grade levels through campus ministry and Christian service. His responsibilities include leading school Masses and prayer services, coordinating retreats and retreat leader training, overseeing after-school service clubs, mentoring juniors through Relationship Hours and accompanying students on summer service trips.
Those daily interactions have already helped him develop meaningful relationships with many of the players he will now coach.
Pendergest began playing volleyball in the eighth grade before earning a varsity spot as a freshman. He remained on the varsity roster throughout high school and served as team captain during his senior season while helping lead the Rams to the program’s first state Final Four appearance.
His vision for the program is built around five core principles: resilience, discipline, leadership, character and competitive toughness.
“Our players will have high expectations both on and off the court,” Pendergest said. “High school athletics provide incredible opportunities for growth, but success in the classroom is just as important. We will develop disciplined student-athletes who are prepared for whatever challenges they face. Our coaching staff will be committed to developing these young men while maintaining open communication with our players and families.”
Returning Badin to championship contention is among his top priorities.
“I want to return Badin volleyball to the level of excellence it has achieved in the past,” he said. “That starts by controlling what we can control and competing to win the GCL. Our expectation is to compete for conference championships, reach the regional tournament every year beginning with year one, and earn a State Final Four appearance within five seasons.”
Pendergest also wants to elevate the profile of the program throughout the school.
“I want volleyball at Badin to be as big as any sport on campus,” he said. “We want students packing Mulcahey Gym, fans following the program, and a culture where every opponent knows they’re going to be in for a battle. We’ll take every practice and every match one at a time, never overlooking an opponent and always leaving everything on the floor.”
Because he works inside the school each day, Pendergest views coaching as an extension of his role as an educator and mentor.
“Being able to encourage our players in the classroom, help them through challenges, and be another resource for them is incredibly important to me,” he said. “Coaching is about building relationships that extend far beyond volleyball.”
He is eager to experience his first match as the Rams’ head coach.
“I can’t wait for our first home game,” Pendergest said. “I know Mulcahey Gym will be electric. The fans, the music, the energy—it’s going to be a nostalgic experience being back in that gym, this time as the head coach.”
His long-term vision extends beyond championships.
“I hope that three years from now people are proud of Badin boys volleyball,” Pendergest said. “I want our community rallying around our team as we make deep tournament runs and create a program that attracts talented student-athletes and enthusiastic fans. We want weekday matches to become events that people look forward to attending.”
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