The University of Iowa recently announced that it has hired Jim Barnes as head coach to to lead its volleyball program.
Barnes has 24 years of experience as head coach and will be the 11th head coach of the Hawkeyes’ volleyball program, according to Hawkeye Sports.
“Jim Barnes has laid the foundation for volleyball programs at Baylor and Tulane and he will do great work for Iowa,” Terry Petit, two-time national coach of the year from Nebraska, said, according to Hawkeye Sports. “His work ethic is exceeded only by his character.”
Before coming to Iowa, Barnes spent six seasons coaching the volleyball program at Tulane, according to Sports Illustrated. Under his leadership, Tulane made back-to-back National Invitational Volleyball Championship appearances and made it to the finals in 2018.
Fourteen members of Barnes’ team were named AAC All-Academic Team.
“The commitment expressed to me by Gary Barta, Barbara Burke and Lyla Clerry to make Iowa volleyball a national contender was extremely impressive,” Barnes said, according to Hawkeye Sports. “I would like to thank them and my family for this opportunity. Our coaches and players will be all in and make Hawkeye Nation very proud of our volleyball program. I can’t wait to get to work.”
