Indiana University Athletics
Steve Aird Signs Extension as IU Volleyball Head Coach
1/5/2024 11:55:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Scott Dolson and head volleyball coach Steve Aird have agreed to a contract extension through the 2029 season.
"Our volleyball program has shown impressive growth over the last several seasons under Coach Aird, to the point that we are now competing at a very high level in the best volleyball conference in the country," Dolson said. "I know that our student-athletes and coaching staff believe there are bigger things ahead for this program, and I'm excited to see what's next for Indiana Volleyball."
Aird, who just completed his sixth season in Bloomington, helped lead the Hoosiers to one of the best seasons in program history in 2023. IU matched a school record with 21 regular season wins and won 11 games in the Big Ten conference for the first time since 1999. It was also just the sixth 20-win season in IU Volleyball's 43-year history as a varsity program, and only the fourth time the program has won 10 more conference games during that same period.
"I would like to thank Scott Dolson and our administration for their continued support," Aird said. "IU has created a first-class experience for our student athletes and one we feel can compete with the nation's best. I am proud of our staff for their hard work and dedication. We are all looking forward to this spring and beyond."
Paired with the opening of the state-of-the-art Wilkinson Hall in 2019, Aird has reinvigorated fan interest in the IU volleyball program. The Hoosiers had two sellouts in 2023 and a pair of attendance records, including a victory over archrival Purdue in front of 2,725 fans in October.
IU has won five matches against ranked opponents in Aird's time in Bloomington, including three in the past two seasons. The win at No. 5 Ohio State in 2022 was the program's first top-five road victory in program history.
Known as an elite recruiter, Aird and his staff have attracted and developed some of the most dynamic players in program history.
Paula Cerame (libero, 2021-22) and Kaley Rammelsberg (middle blocker, 2021-23) were immediate starters out of the transfer portal while Savannah Kjolhede (middle blocker, 2020-23), Camryn Haworth (junior setter) and Ramsey Gary (freshman libero) were highly-regarded prep recruits that have made enormous impacts on the program.
Three Hoosiers earned All-Big Ten honors in 2023 including Haworth (unaninmous first team), Gary (second team and unanimous freshman team) and Rammelsberg (second team). Haworth, one of Aird's first IU recruits, became the program's fourth AVCA All-American in 2023.
"Our team has made us proud on the court, in the classroom and in the community," Aird said. "They come early, stay late and truly care about each other. Paired with incredible recruits heading to campus, there is reason to be excited about the future. Bloomington is an amazing college town that my wife and children proudly call home. We are grateful for the opportunity and are excited to continue to build this program."
Led by the return of Haworth, Gary, Morgan Geddes, and sophomores Candela Alonso-Corcelles and Avry Tatum, the Hoosiers will take a strong core of veterans into a new era of Big Ten Volleyball in 2024.
In addition to the talent that will return in the fall from the 2023 roster, Aird has also assembled a top-flight staff that will also return. Included in that group are Associate Head Coach Rachel Morris and Assistant Coach Brett Agne, both of whom were recently named to VolleyballMag's Under 40 College Coaching Hotshots list.
"Our volleyball program has shown impressive growth over the last several seasons under Coach Aird, to the point that we are now competing at a very high level in the best volleyball conference in the country," Dolson said. "I know that our student-athletes and coaching staff believe there are bigger things ahead for this program, and I'm excited to see what's next for Indiana Volleyball."
Aird, who just completed his sixth season in Bloomington, helped lead the Hoosiers to one of the best seasons in program history in 2023. IU matched a school record with 21 regular season wins and won 11 games in the Big Ten conference for the first time since 1999. It was also just the sixth 20-win season in IU Volleyball's 43-year history as a varsity program, and only the fourth time the program has won 10 more conference games during that same period.
"I would like to thank Scott Dolson and our administration for their continued support," Aird said. "IU has created a first-class experience for our student athletes and one we feel can compete with the nation's best. I am proud of our staff for their hard work and dedication. We are all looking forward to this spring and beyond."
Paired with the opening of the state-of-the-art Wilkinson Hall in 2019, Aird has reinvigorated fan interest in the IU volleyball program. The Hoosiers had two sellouts in 2023 and a pair of attendance records, including a victory over archrival Purdue in front of 2,725 fans in October.
IU has won five matches against ranked opponents in Aird's time in Bloomington, including three in the past two seasons. The win at No. 5 Ohio State in 2022 was the program's first top-five road victory in program history.
Known as an elite recruiter, Aird and his staff have attracted and developed some of the most dynamic players in program history.
Paula Cerame (libero, 2021-22) and Kaley Rammelsberg (middle blocker, 2021-23) were immediate starters out of the transfer portal while Savannah Kjolhede (middle blocker, 2020-23), Camryn Haworth (junior setter) and Ramsey Gary (freshman libero) were highly-regarded prep recruits that have made enormous impacts on the program.
Three Hoosiers earned All-Big Ten honors in 2023 including Haworth (unaninmous first team), Gary (second team and unanimous freshman team) and Rammelsberg (second team). Haworth, one of Aird's first IU recruits, became the program's fourth AVCA All-American in 2023.
"Our team has made us proud on the court, in the classroom and in the community," Aird said. "They come early, stay late and truly care about each other. Paired with incredible recruits heading to campus, there is reason to be excited about the future. Bloomington is an amazing college town that my wife and children proudly call home. We are grateful for the opportunity and are excited to continue to build this program."
Led by the return of Haworth, Gary, Morgan Geddes, and sophomores Candela Alonso-Corcelles and Avry Tatum, the Hoosiers will take a strong core of veterans into a new era of Big Ten Volleyball in 2024.
In addition to the talent that will return in the fall from the 2023 roster, Aird has also assembled a top-flight staff that will also return. Included in that group are Associate Head Coach Rachel Morris and Assistant Coach Brett Agne, both of whom were recently named to VolleyballMag's Under 40 College Coaching Hotshots list.
Players Mentioned
Outside Hitter
/ Women's Volleyball
Libero
/ Women's Volleyball
Outside Hitter
/ Women's Volleyball
Setter
/ Women's Volleyball
Middle Blocker
/ Women's Volleyball
Middle Blocker
/ Women's Volleyball
Opposite/Middle Blocker
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