NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State head volleyball coach Leah Johnson announced on Wednesday the addition of Jake Barreau to her Redbird coaching staff as an associate head coach. Barreau replaces longtime assistant Eric Plunkett, who left the program to take the vacant head coaching position at Gardner-Webb.
Barreau joins the Redbirds after spending the previous three seasons at Oklahoma, where he developed the Sooners' defense into one of the top squads in the Big 12 and the NCAA.
"I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to join my friend and mentor Leah Johnson, her staff, and the team here at Illinois State," Barreau expressed. "I would like to thank AD Kyle Brennan, SWA Leanna Bordner, and the entire staff here at ISU for investing in me. Having previously coached in the Missouri Valley Conference, I know how competitive this league is and what it takes to be at the top. I have always had such a respect for the Redbird volleyball program, and I am excited to be officially a part of the family. Go you, Redbirds!"
"I am thrilled to add Jake (Barreau) to our coaching staff," Johnson shared. "He is an elite recruiter, a great coach, and an incredible person. We are fortunate to call him a Redbird!"
Barreau's recruiting efforts helped the Sooners secure the No. 10 recruiting class in the country in 2021, while their class of 2022 ranked No. 8 overall. His passion for others extends past the volleyball court, as Barreau served as the Among Friends Activity Center Board of Directors President in 2020 and has been an active member of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America program. Barreau earned the 2020 Advocate Magazine Champion of Pride Award and he served on the AVCA Assistant Coaches Committee while at Oklahoma.
With Barreau's guidance in 2019, the Oklahoma defense held opponents to a .177 hitting percentage, ranking second in the Big 12. Keyton Kinley was named the Big 12 Libero of the Year for the second time after leading the league with 506 digs. A unanimous All-Big 12 First Team selection, Kinley was also named to the AVCA All-Southwest Region First Team.
In 2018, the Oklahoma defense held opponents to a .189 hitting percentage, first in the Big 12 and 14th nationally among teams from Power Five conferences. Kinley was named the Big 12 Libero of the Year after earning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors three times (Oct. 15, Oct. 22, Nov. 19) to set a program record for most defensive weekly accolades in a career. Additionally, Kinley was tabbed to the All-Big 12 and AVCA All-Southwest Region first teams and was named an AVCA All-America Honorable Mention.
Prior to joining the Sooners, Barreau was an assistant coach for the Missouri State Bears for four seasons after joining the program in 2014. He worked extensively with MSU's defensive players, helping the Bears rank fifth nationally in total digs in 2015 and eighth in 2016. During Barreau's tenure, the Bears accumulated 98 wins, three NCAA Tournament trips and the 2016 and 2017 MVC regular season title.
Barreau was a recipient of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Thirty Under 30 Award in 2016. This award is given annually to thirty up-and-coming volleyball coaches under 30 years old in the sport at all levels of the game. In March 2017, Barreau also worked on the statistical crew at the U.S. Women's National Team Open Tryouts.
Before joining the MSU staff, Barreau was a volunteer assistant for Wisconsin's NCAA runner-up team for the 2013 season. Working for his alma mater, Barreau prepared scouting videos and assisted in practice drills. Barreau spent the spring of 2014 as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Chicago State before joining MSU.
Prior to reaching the collegiate coaching ranks, Barreau was the head girls' volleyball coach at Monona Grove High school in Monona, Wisconsin, for three years. As an undergraduate at Wisconsin, Barreau was extensively involved in the club volleyball programs.
A native of Portage, Wisconsin, Barreau graduated from Wisconsin in 2013 with degrees in marketing and Spanish.
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
