Eric Plunkett enters his ninth season as an assistant volleyball coach at Illinois State in 2020 after being named associate head coach in April 2016. Plunkett joined the Illinois State staff prior to the 2012 season, and brings a wide variety of experience, coaching both women and men at various levels.

The Redbirds have compiled a combined record of 189-104 over Plunkett’s first seven seasons with the team. Illinois State has registered a winning record in each season during Plunkett’s tenure, and won Missouri Valley Conference regular-season and tournament titles in 2014, a share of the regular-season title in 2018 and the league’s automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament in 2019.

Prior to his arrival at ISU in 2012, Plunkett served as a volunteer assistant for the women’s volleyball team at Ole Miss. His responsibilities there included assisting with practices, implementing scouting and recruiting procedures, and compiling potential recruit evaluations.

Plunkett 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 organized recruiting efforts for the Crusaders, facilitated fundraising for club tournaments, and gained experience in both designing and executing practice plans.

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.

A native of San Jose, California, Plunkett earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from California Baptist in 2008, before receiving his master’s degree in coaching and athletic administration from Concordia University - Irvine in 2019.