NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State assistant volleyball coach Eric Plunkett has been promoted to the role of associate head coach, Illinois State head volleyball coach Melissa Myers announced Wednesday.
Plunkett, a Redbird assistant since 2012, earned the promotion after helping guide the team to an 86-41 record over the past four seasons, including back-to-back seasons with 20-plus wins the past two years.
"Eric has done a great job promoting our program and University as recruiting coordinator the past four years," Myers said. "He embraces the goals of our program and has contributed to the development of our student-athletes. It is because of his commitment to our goals and values that I'm happy to promote Eric and continue working with him to help our program reach higher levels of success."
Plunkett played a key role in Illinois State's Missouri Valley Conference regular-season and tournament titles in 2014, as Illinois State went undefeated in conference play and set a school record with a 23-match winning streak. Illinois State advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2014.
In his four years at Illinois State, Plunkett has helped coach student-athletes to 13 all-conference selections, six American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) all-region recognitions and three AVCA All-America selections.
"I am grateful to be a part of the Illinois State Redbird family these past four seasons. I am very appreciative of this opportunity that head coach Melissa Myers has given me," Plunkett said. "I'm committed to supporting Melissa with her vision for this program and look forward to being a part of this program's continued success."
Prior to his arrival at Illinois State in 2012, Plunkett served as a volunteer assistant for the women's volleyball team at Ole Miss. He spent the two years prior to that as an assistant coach of the men's volleyball team at Clarke University, where he helped Clarke produce its first NAIA All-American.
Plunkett was a standout setter at California Baptist, where he helped the team to three NAIA national championships. A three-year starter, Plunkett was a two-time NAIA all-tournament team selection.
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