PHOTO: Brian McLean
By Chuck Licata
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It was Nov. 23, 2019.
No one would argue the two teams playing for the UIL Class 6A state title – the Byron Nelson Bobcats and the Plano West Wolfpack – weren’t the two of the top three teams in the state of Texas at the time. The Bobcats were led by the Bri Groth, the all-time Texas high school volleyball leader in assists who was in her second season as head coach.
On the opposite sideline was Justin Waters, who was in his second year as the Wolfpack’s head coach.
He was very successful as both a high school volleyball coach – in 2018, his first year at Plano West, Waters guided the team to the state semifinals and a 37-10 overall record – as well as the club level; his EXCEL club teams qualified for Nationals on a regular basis.
In an article I wrote at that time, Waters – who had no less than seven NCAA Division I commits on his 2019 Wolfpack roster – told me before the season Plano West had a great amount of talent and he felt it was his role to “harness the talent” and bring it all together.
Unfortunately for Plano West fans, the ‘Pack competed well but fell to the Bobcats in five amazing sets (21-25, 25-12, 22-25, 25-15, 15-7). Byron Nelson (50-2 that season) has since won another state title (2024).
Waters’ crew finished the 2019 season at 40-6.
Waters – who teaches high-level and honors classes – left the PWHS sidelines after two more seasons (the Wolfpack made it to the regional finals both those years) as he and his wife Makenzie tended to their newborn boy, Cooper. He continued to coach club volleyball (he’s been with the EXCEL program for 12 years) and remained a teacher in the classroom.
But fast forward to 2025 and we now find Waters coaching the Walnut Grove Wildcats in District 9-5A.
“I interviewed for the position back in late January after hearing about it,” Waters explained. “Then I had a second interview in early February and was offered the job the next day. Unfortunately, I had to quit my job with the EXCEL club because of UIL rules.”
Waters was coaching the club’s top 16U team at the time.
Still, Waters is in somewhat familiar territory with Walnut Grove, a program that finished 28-17 last year and not only made the UIL playoffs in only its second year of existence but won its first-round playoff match under then-coach Autumn Loyd.
He inherits a team with one of the best overall players in the state in senior setter/hitter Danielle Whitmire (currently ranked #2 in her class by PrepDig Volleyball); I’ve written two stories on the impact of Whitmire, who’s played with Keller standout Anna Flores with the Texas Advantage Volleyball (TAV) club. Whitmire heads up north to join current NCAA champion Penn State after this season.
Also on the Walnut Grove roster entering this season: seniors Maleah (Mia) Evans (TAV, ranked #56 by PrepDig), Vivian Crumley (Madfrog; she’s committed to play beach volleyball at Carson-Newman University), and Madelyn Wootten (Madfrog- she’s currently injured); junior Lauren Aguilar (Skyline Juniors), set for work in the back row; and sophomores Kate Clegg (Skyline, ranked #13 in her class) and Kyndall Smith (Skyline), who also played for the WGHS basketball team last year. 2027 setter and outside Brynn Stephens transferred in the off-season, coming from Prosper Rock Hill. Stephens, who is committed to SMU, was denied eligibility by the 9-5A DEC on Aug. 7, but will appeal in front of the UIL. If Stephens is granted playing time by the UIL, that will set WGHS a part – with a 6-2 rotation with Stephens and Whitmire, who both stand tall at around 6-foot-3.
“Walking into the Walnut Grove program is a lot like walking into the Plano West program back in 2018,” Waters proclaimed. “You have a lot of talent on the floor and you want to harness that talent. I see a huge ceiling and ton of potential with this group.
“The girls have responded well already since I came in; they’re enjoying my style of training and I think we’re going to turn some heads. I’m also blessed to have Hannah Sargent as my top assistant.”
Keeping in mind Waters guided Plano West to the state tournament twice in his first two years as the head coach, you realize he expects success at the highest level. He won’t say it, so I’ll say it for him: he expects the same kind of success at Walnut Grove.
First things first – the Wildcats play in the same district as perennial state champion Lovejoy (10 state titles and 13 appearances at state in 19 years of existence) and 2024 state finalist McKinney North. As mentioned in my article on Monday, the Leopards are under direction of a new head coach (Sean McMurry) and lost #1-ranked junior Gentry Barker, who picked up and transferred to Lake Travis High School in the Austin area.
WGHS finished fourth last year behind Melissa and McKinney North; Greenville, Anna, Sherman and Denison also populate 9-5A. Keep a close eye on the Wildcats this season. They have a highly motivated and successful coach, their roster is loaded with talent and I expect the ‘Cats to go at least two or three rounds in the playoffs.
Justin Waters wouldn’t have it any other way.
