Eastern Illinois University Athletics

Coming off the most successful season in recent years, Eastern Illinois volleyball head coach Sara Thomas looks to continue that success in the future and today announced the hiring of Cole Aiazzi as the associate head coach for the Panthers volleyball program in addition to his role serving as the Panthers recruiting coordinator.
 
Aiazzi comes to EIU following a stint at Big Sky Conference member Montana State where he served as the associate head coach for the Bobcat program working at MSU for six seasons.
 
“Cole brings a wide range of quality experience, which has provided him with the ability to make an immediate impact in our program. His strengths and personality aligns well with our vision and goals. He has demonstrated tremendous capability to learn and teach, along with talent identification. I look forward to him joining our Panther volleyball family,” said Thomas. 
 
As the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator he was responsible for communication with, and evaluation of, all future Montana State volleyball players. Additionally, he contributed to practice planning and generating scouting reports. A skilled teacher of the game, Aiazzi moved from the defensive side of the net his first four seasons, and took over the reins of the Bobcat offense heading into the 2021 fall season.
 
Since joining the MSU coaching staff, Aiazzi played an integral part in the rise of the program, and in particular the rise of his position groups to prominence within the conference as well as on the national stage.  He coached libero Allyssa Rizzo who became the school’s career leader in digs finishing with 2,122 for her career earning Big Sky Conference Libero of the Year along with first team All-Big Sky Conference accolades.  She is one of just three players in conference history with more than 2,000 career digs. 
 
He also coached first-team All-Big Sky pin hitters in outside Evi Wilson and right-side Hannah Scott.  He was part of a staff that accomplished some program feats not seen in 15 or more years.  The team won its first Big Sky Conference Tournament match since 2005.  They beat Sacramento State on its home court for the first time in 22 years.  They won at Northern Arizona for the first time since 2005 and had a season sweep of conference rival Idaho for the first time in 31 years. 
 
All told Aiazzi helped coach 14 All-Big Sky Conference performers including seven first team selections.  The Bobcats advanced to the Big Sky Tournament semifinals in 2019 and 2021 and posted winning seasons in three of his final four seasons in Bozeman.

Prior to joining the Montana State staff in July 2017, he spent the 2016 season contributing to a Big Ten Conference Championship and Final Four appearance as part of the University of Nebraska program. Prior to his stint at Nebraska, Aiazzi was a graduate assistant coach at Augustana College, where he produced scouting reports and trained liberos and outside hitters. He also assisted with recruiting duties.

A former AVCA NCAA Division III All-America performer at Lakeland College, Aiazzi has club experience with Volleyball Club Nebraska (VCN). He coached the program's 17 Elite squad to a Heartland Cup championship in 18's division, as well as a top five finish at the Asics President's Day Classic.

Aiazzi graduated from Lakeland College in 2015.  As a player, the former libero was the 2015 Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-MCVL selection for the Muskies. Aiazzi, is a native of Yerington, Nevada.