Lewis Assistant Coach Andy Cole Named An AVCA Thirty Under 30 Selection

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – Lewis University men’s and women’s volleyball assistant coach Andy Cole has been selected by the American Volleyball Coaches Association as a Thirty Under 30 honoree.

The award was created in 2009 to honor up-and-coming coaching talent at all levels of volleyball. To qualify for the award nominees must be younger than 30 years old in 2010. The list of winners will be featured in the upcoming April/May edition of Coaching Volleyball magazine.

Cole is in his first season as an assistant coach for both the men’s and women’s programs at Lewis. In November he helped the Lewis women’s program win the 2010 Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship, earn an NCAA berth and finish the season ranked No. 14 in the nation with a 27-5 record.

“Andy joined us in the fall and made an immediate impact,” Lewis women’s volleyball head coach Lorelee Smith said. “He has an impressive ability to relate to players on an individual basis and is one of the hardest workers in the gym.”

Lewis men’s volleyball head coach Dan Friend echoed Smith’s sentiments.

“I’m fortunate and blessed to have Andy as part of the men’s volleyball program,” Friend said. “He has helped this year’s young team compete at a very high level. I’m excited about all the things he brings to the table on a daily basis.”

The Lewis men’s volleyball program is ranked No. 14 in the nation according to the latest AVCA poll and is 10-4 on the season.

“I’m honored to be thought of highly enough by my colleagues and the AVCA to receive this award,” Cole said. “Throughout my playing and young coaching career, many people have worked hard to create an environment and provide an opportunity for me to succeed in. I hope I can continue to do the same as I coach.”

Cole graduated with a finance degree in 2006 from Ohio State. He was named the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Freshman of the Year in 2003. He earned his MBA from Loyola-Chicago in 2009 after a pair of seasons as Loyola’s women’s volleyball graduate assistant.

Cole also has coaching experience with the Rote Raben Professional Volleyball Club in Vilsbiburg, Germany. During the summers of 2009 and 2010 Cole was the Boys Select & Youth Continental Team Head Coach for USA Volleyball at the High Performance Championships.