Emilyn (Jordan) Barker enters her fourth season as an assistant volleyball coach at her alma mater, helping Southeastern Louisiana to its fourth-straight year with double-digit wins and a second consecutive trip to the Southland Conference Tournament in three seasons.
In 2015, Southeastern recorded its most overall wins (13-18) since the 2004 season and that comes on the heels of an 8-8 Southland mark in 2014, the program's most conference victories in a dozen seasons.
Juniors Landry Bullock and Madi Odom earned All-Louisiana honors from the Louisiana Sports Writers Association for their efforts in leading the Lady Lions to new heights in 2015.
One of the highlights of the year included the Lady Lions' first victory over conference-foe Central Arkansas.
Southeastern also made their academic efforts known throughout the conference as Bullock joined senior Mikayla Shippy on the Southland All-Academic squad. For Shippy, it was her second consecutive appearance on the conference's academic team.
Morgan Todd made her mark on the Southeastern record book in 2014, earning All-Southland (second team) honors.
Barker joinied the staff in October of 2013 from Seward County (Kan.) Community College.
In her one-plus seasons with SCCC, Barker helped Seward to a 20-win season and was on the bench for a Lady Saints team that was ranked in the NJCAA Top-20 for the 18th straight season. Seward finished the 2012 season in second place in the Jayhawk West with an 11-3 record, just the second time since the turn of the century that the Lady Saints posted double digit wins in conference action. Barker, who primarily worked with the Seward hitters, saw three of her players named Jayhawk West All-Conference, including Thayna Silva who was a first team selection.
Barker came to Seward County from Sweeny, Texas, where she coached a number of different club teams with AVA (Absolute Volleyball Academy). She was the assistant coach for the 17Rox and head coach for the 13Blocks and 14select teams. In 2011, Barker coached at Sewanee, University of the South (NCAA Division III), in Tennessee. While at Sewanee she helped turn the program around by quadrupling the team’s win total from the 2010 season. In 2010, Barker started her coaching career at Christian Life Academy in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She served as the Crusaders JV Head Coach and Varsity Assistant Coach.
Barker graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science degree with a focus on Kinesiology-Sports Management. A four-year letterwinner in volleyball at Southeastern, she was named team captain her sophomore year.
Barker's husband Justin coaches volleyball at Loyola University of New Orleans. The couple resides in Tickfaw, Louisiana.
