April 17, 2002

Columbia, S.C.-Carolina head volleyball coach Kim Christopher recently announced former Olympic assistant coach and Chinese National Team member, Jason Hou as the newest assistant to the Gamecock staff. Hou will replace former assistant Joe Getzin, who left earlier this year, for the head coach position at Ole Miss.

“I am very excited about having Jason join our staff. He brings a level of coaching and playing experience that not too many people have,” said Christopher. “His experience and ability to relate to athletes will help bring our program to that next level. At one time, he was known as the best setter in the world.”

As an assistant for the Chinese Women’s National Team, he helped guide them to a silver medal finish at the 1996 Olympics, a second-place World Championship finish, a third-place World Cup finish and two Asian Games first-place finishes.

“I am really looking forward to my time here at South Carolina,” said Hou. “Coming from the junior college level, it will be a challenge to coach Division I, and that is what I am looking for. South Carolina has a history of good teams and Kim (Christopher) is a great coach and a good person. I know I can learn a lot from coaching here.”

Prior to Carolina, Hou served as an assistant coach for three years at the College of Southern Idaho, a junior college where he helped guide teams to two national titles, 2000-2001 and 1997, and a 45-3 record in 2001-2002. Hou’s Division I coaching experience came in 1996-97 when he was an assistant at St. Louis University.

As an athlete, Hou was an international standout as a setter for the men’s Chinese National Team. He competed in the Asian Games, the Asian Men’s Volleyball Championships, two World Men’s Volleyball Championships, and three World League finishes.