About CJ Upchurch

CJ Upchurch is a proud Texas School for the Deaf (TSD) alumnus who joined the TSD Athletics Department in 2023. He oversees sporting and tournament events across campus, coordinating athletics programs from elementary through high school. In addition to managing athletics public relations, CJ also supervises the weight room and serves as the head coach of the TSD Varsity volleyball team.

A true Texan at heart, CJ was born and raised in Texas and is an avid Longhorn fan. After graduating from TSD in 2016, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business with a focus on Marketing and Management from Gallaudet University in 2022. During his time at Gallaudet, CJ served as a student assistant coach for the women’s volleyball team, helping lead the team to NCAA playoff appearances in 2016 and 2021. He also served as a team manager for the USA Deaf Women’s Volleyball Team, which won gold at the 2019 Pan American Games in Brazil.

CJ has continued to compete at the highest level of Deaf volleyball. He is a setter for the USA Deaf Men’s Volleyball National Team and competed at the 2024 World Deaf Volleyball Championship in Japan, where the team placed fourth in the world. In May 2025, he competed with Team USA at the USAV U.S. Open in Denver, Colorado, earning a silver medal.

In November 2025, CJ represented Team USA at the Deaflympics in Tokyo, Japan, where the USA Deaf Men’s Volleyball Team finished fourth. In June 2026, CJ was named an assistant coach for the USA Deaf Women’s Volleyball National Team for the next Deaflympics cycle.

From 2021 to 2025, CJ served as a board member and Assistant Youth Coordinator for USA Deaf Volleyball, where he helped support youth volleyball development and create opportunities for the next generation of Deaf athletes.

Outside of his professional and volleyball commitments, CJ enjoys outdoor activities, especially those involving water, including stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) and swimming. He also enjoys spending time with his dog, Shadow.