Doug Eller has been named the new Varsity Head Coach for Volleyball at Salem High School. The Salem School Board formally approved his appointment earlier this year.
Eller is replacing Beth Denton who coached the Spartans on two different occasions in the past 15 years. She coached JV and Varsity squads from 2009-2014 and led the Varsity program again for four seasons from 2020-2023.
"I'm honored to be able to contribute to my local community,” said Eller. “I consider it a privilege to help lead, support, and grow the volleyball program at Salem High School.”
While this will be Eller’s first fall as a head coach of the Spartans, his volleyball experiences are immense. Over the past two decades, he has coached at Glenvar Middle School, Glenvar High School, and most recently at James River High School in Botetourt County. He has also coached young athletes on travel teams for the valley’s local volleyball clubs, Roanoke United and Next Revolution.
“I have enjoyed volleyball my entire adult life and to say I am passionate about the sport would be an understatement,” he said. “I completely understand and appreciate the commitment to excellence in athletics that is fostered at Salem High School.”
He has surrounded himself with several outstanding volleyball minds to enhance his first year on the varsity bench. David Turk, Sarah Beth Walton, Basil Conner, and Moriah Moore were all part of Salem’s last volleyball state title in 1998. They will serve as assistants along with Russ Danstrom, and Chris Thomas. The Andrew Lewis Middle School team will be spearheaded by Kim Martinez and Kim Crist.
Eller is a North Carolina native who moved to this part of Southwest Virginia early in what is now a 40-year career with Rack Room Shoes. He and his wife Cherie reside in Salem and are the proud parents of adult daughters Adalynn and Delaney.