The AVCA is pleased to announce the Regional Coaches of the Year for Two-Year College women’s volleyball, as chosen by the Two-Year College Volleyball All-America Selection Committee. The eight recipients, who represent all three NJCAA Divisions, the CCCAA and the NWAC, come from each of the four regions: Midwest, Northeast/Southeast, Southwest, and West.
MIDWEST REGION COACHES OF THE YEAR
Jennifer Ei, Johnson County Community College
2023 Record: 37-4
It was another highly successful year for Johnson County Community College with Ei at the helm. In her 16th season, her Lady Cavaliers stayed among the nation’s elite teams, as they opened up by winning their first 27 matches en route to a third-place finish at the NJCAA Division II Championship.
Steven Gream, Cowley College
2023 Record: 41-0
Gream led Cowley to a dream season in 2023. The Tigers capped a perfect 41-0 campaign in the perfect way, with a title in the NJCAA Division II Championship. How dominant was Gream’s team this year? They only dropped five sets the entire season, two of which were in the final against Scottsdale CC.
NORTHEAST/SOUTHEAST REGION COACHES OF THE YEAR
Thais Baziquetto-Allen, Florida SouthWestern State College
2023 Record: 31-1
The Buccaneers continued to light up the NJCAA volleyball world by earning their second-consecutive Division I National Championship in only the fifth season of the program. Baqizuetto-Allen’s squad avenged its only loss in 2023 by taking down rival Miami Dade 3-1 in the final in Hutchinson, Kansas.
Patricia Gandolfo, Pensacola State College
2023 Record: 34-5
Gandolfo has made an immediate impact at in her three seasons at Pensacola State. This year was a continuation of the momentum she’s building, as the Pirates earned the program’s highest ranking in the NJCAA Poll and first-ever appearance in the Division II Championship, where they finished fourth.
SOUTHWEST REGION COACHES OF THE YEAR
Molly Hummel, San Joaquin Delta College
2023 Record: 27-1 (as of Nov. 29)
Hummel’s 2023 squad stormed through the regular season—winning its first 24 matches—and enters the CCCAA Tournament with a 27-1 record seeking. The Mustangs won their part of the NorCal Regional and head are the North’s top seed as they seek to win the school’s first state championship.
Phil Nickel, Dallas College Eastfield
2023 Record: 35-0
Nickel made quite splash in his first full season on the sidelines at Dallas Eastfield, leading his team to an NJCAA Division III championship. Coming off an eight-win campaign in 2022, the Harvester Bees entered this year unranked before making their historical run to an undefeated, title-winning season.
WEST REGION COACHES OF THE YEAR
Mackenzie Chrisman, Northeastern Junior College
2023 Record: 36-3
Northeastern enjoyed a break-through season in Chrisman’s fifth year. The Plainswomen went 36-3 in 2023, improving their win total by 11 over 2022. After a pair of early-season losses, they closed the regular-season by winning 21-straight matches before getting fifth at the NJCAA Division I Championship.
Jayme Frazier, Linn-Benton Community College
2023 Record: 36-0
Frazier’s name has been synonymous with success since she took over the Linn-Benton volleyball program in 1993. The Roadrunners closed a particularly impressive year, in which they were unbeaten in 36 matches. Over the past three seasons, her teams have gone 100-3 and won three NWAC titles.