Texas volleyball legend Juliann Faucette is returning to the program, only this time as a Player Development Consultant.
“I am thrilled to be joining the top program in the country,” Faucette said. “This opportunity is a culmination of a lifelong dream for me. I am eager to contribute to the program that has had such a significant impact on my life and career.”
From the moment she moved from her hometown of San Diego to Austin in 2007, Faucette was an influential part of the Longhorn program.
As a freshman, Faucette started in all but one game and ranked first on the team in total kills. She became the 2007 Big 12 Freshman of the Year and the AVCA National Freshman of the Year. But she didn’t stop there, becoming a three-time All-American and Big 12 Player of the Year in 2010.
“She is one of the legends who rebuilt this program,” Texas volleyball head coach Jerritt Elliott said. “For all of her hard work and dedication to The University of Texas, she was awarded the highest honor in being elected into the Hall of Honor in 2020.”
After college, Faucette went on to have a successful professional volleyball career. However, in 2016, Faucette was seriously injured while playing in China, preventing her from playing the sport she had built her identity around.
She found an outlet in music and published a seven-song EP titled Complete.
“I couldn’t play the sport that made me who I was, I was seriously depressed and needed to face myself,” Faucette wrote on her website. “The album quickly became my motivation and the lyrics are a product of my work towards healing. I learned that I am more than just a volleyball player. I learned that writing music and singing were big parts of me too.”
After discovering who she was outside of volleyball, Faucette wanted to help other athletes by sharing what she learned. While putting a pause on her playing career, she focused on coaching and mentoring young athletes.
In 2019, she created a podcast called “Behind the Athlete” to highlight high-level athletes and their passions outside of the sport. One of the athletes she talked to was former Longhorn volleyball star Logan Eggleston, who spoke about her passion for empowering others and going into business after volleyball.
“Similar to what I found in my music, I find that these athletes learn that they value their time away from the court/field, and that whatever they decide to explore becomes an escape from the pressures and intensity of sport,” Faucette wrote. “It actually enhances their game.”
Faucette’s new position as a Player Development Consultant will allow her to continue to help athletes while she plays professional volleyball with League One Volleyball.
“She will bring tremendous energy to our program as a great sounding board for our student-athletes to grow on and off the court,” Elliott said. “Our players will love having her part of our staff.”
