Kings Mountain volleyball tabs proven winner as next head coach

KINGS MOUNTAIN — One of NCHSAA volleyball’s more consistent programs over the past several years has tabbed a proven winner as its next head coach.

Kings Mountain volleyball named longtime Gaston Day coach Derek Bing as its new head man during a press conference Monday, March 16, at Donald Parker Gymnasium.

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“We had an amazing run (at Gaston Day),” Bing said. “We’ve had three daughters graduate from there; all three played for me. We’ve had players, coaches, families, administrators who have really bought in, been so supportive and so good to our family. I’m very appreciative of them. My wife still works there; we’ll always love that school and support it.

“But we’ve connected with Kings Mountain for a reason. It became very clear and undeniable to me that this was the right time to make the right move.”

Bing added: “(Kings Mountain administrators’) preparation when we got together, the questions they asked and the way they answered my questions showed me that volleyball is absolutely a top priority here and we are completely aligned in our vision for the program.”

Kings Mountain volleyball announced Derek Bing (center) as its new head coach on March 16, 2026. Here, he takes a picture with school principal Melissa Wilson and athletic director Kevin Cruise.

Bing takes over for Heather Pasour, who spent the last decade as the Mountaineers’ volleyball coach. During her tenure, Kings Mountain won a total of 232 games, in addition to eight conference titles and the 2023 NCHSAA 3A state crown.

Over a similar stretch, Bing was in the process of turning Gaston Day volleyball into a juggernaut. Over the course of a decade, the Spartans won NCISAA 2A titles in 2021, 2024 and 2025, in addition to three more state final appearances and five league championships.

“(Bing) brings an exceptional record of success, player development and leadership built over the years,” said Kings Mountain athletic director Kevin Cruise. “For the past 10 seasons, Bing has served as the head coach at Gaston Day School, where he built one of the region’s premier volleyball programs.”

Wearing one of his three state championship rings won at Gaston Day, Bing acknowledged his successful track record. However, the new Kings Mountain volleyball coach let it be known such doesn’t come through necessarily focusing on the end goal; rather such success comes through doing the right thing all the time.

“(Winning state titles) are a byproduct of doing the right things, the right way, all the time,” he said. “When I finally learned that everyday we come in here is special because its just another day in the gym, doing what we do the way we’re supposed to do it, that’s when we started building a road to success.

“I want to make it real clear; even though Kings Mountain has great history and I have a great history, we’re absolutely not absolutely not defending anything. We’re attacking and relentlessly pursuing, and building the program we want to have.”

Under his watch, Bing said Kings Mountain plans to achieve such lofty goals playing a tough schedule, even if such means taking a few lumps along the way.

“That’s the way we want it. I’m very much opposed to cheap winning in order to give another cheap meal and another cheap T-shirt and Instagram post,” he added. “So we will absolutely schedule tough for growth and preparation, not for record.”

This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: Kings Mountain volleyball names Derek Bing as new head coach