After more than four and a half decades at Dorman High School, Coach Kirkland says she finds herself overwhelmed with gratitude for the place she has always called home. “I have been blessed to work in a school district that believed in me, alongside a coaching family that became my family, and with generations of players who gave their hearts to this program and made every season special. To our fans, parents, alumni, and the countless people who supported Dorman Volleyball through the years, thank you for being part of this journey. The wins and championships will always hold a special place in my heart, but the relationships, friendships, and memories are what I will treasure most. Dorman gave me so much more than a place to coach; it gave me a lifetime of purpose, pride, and belonging. I may be stepping away from the sidelines, but I will never stop being a Cavalier. Thank you for allowing me to spend 46 unforgettable years doing what I love, in the place I love, with people I love.”
The numbers behind Kirkland’s legendary career are nothing short of amazing. Under her leadership, Dorman claimed 17 State Championships, 36 Region Championships, and 1,173 victories. She was named Region Coach of the Year 26 times, South Carolina Volleyball Coach of the Year 3 times, and was also recognized as AVCA Sectional Coach of the Year and the NFHS National Volleyball Coach of the Year. Kirkland has been inducted into numerous Halls of Fame, including the South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association (SCACA) Hall of Fame and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Hall of Fame.
Spartanburg County School District Six Superintendent Dr. Ken Kiser reflected on Kirkland’s remarkable career and the lasting influence she has had on the district. “Paula Kirkland’s Hall of Fame career is filled with state and region championships, coach of the year recognitions, and multiple Hall of Fame inductions. Her greatest accomplishments, however, are not in the wins, championships, and recognitions. They are found in the positive impact she has had on her players, coaches, staff, and District Six community, and beyond. Paula has been a shining light, and her legacy will continue through the lives of everyone she has touched, including my own.”
For Kirkland, Dorman High School has always been more than just a school or her place of employment. It has been home. Kirkland is a 1976 graduate of Dorman where she was a three-year letterwinner on the girls basketball team. She attended Anderson Junior College and was part of the Junior College NAIA National Championship team during her freshman year. After her time at Anderson, she attended Winthrop University and played both basketball and softball for two years. Upon graduation at Winthrop, she returned home to Roebuck and began teaching and coaching at Dorman High School.
When Coach Kirkland joined the Dorman faculty in 1980, one of her responsibilities was to take over as head coach of the girls volleyball program. Although volleyball was a sport she had never played before, she embraced the opportunity with determination and a commitment to excellence. She sought the best coaches around to help teach her the sport, get coaching advice, and improve her ability to lead the Cavaliers. In 1987, the Cavaliers claimed their first region championship in girls volleyball. They claimed it again in 1989 and went on to win 18 consecutive region championships. The Cavaliers are currently in the midst of a new Region Championship streak having claimed 15 straight championships. Coach Kirkland always remembers those humble beginnings and those that gave their time to teach her the sport. To pay it forward, she has been a leader in sharing with young coaches both at Dorman and around the state whenever the opportunity presents itself.
When Coach Kirkland led the Cavaliers to their first volleyball state championship in 1990 it was the first Dorman State Championship in any sport in 20 years and only the school's fourth-ever State Championship. Girls Volleyball and Coach Kirkland played an instrumental role in changing the success of the entire school. Not only has volleyball won 17 State Championships, but since the first volleyball title in 1990, Dorman has gone on to win 68 state championships across all sports.
Although her time leading the Cavaliers from the sidelines has come to an end, Kirkland will continue to serve Dorman High School in her role as Assistant Athletic Director. Her impact on Dorman and its athletic programs will endure for generations, extending far beyond the championships and victories through the countless student-athletes, coaches, and members of the Dorman community whose lives she has influenced. While her role may look a little different moving forward, Paula Kirkland will always be an integral part of the Dorman Cavalier family.