In 2025, Steve Aird led Indiana to its first NCAA tournament since 2010 and even appeared in the Sweet 16. With first and second round wins right in his backyard at Wilkinson Hall in Bloomington, Aird and his Hoosiers defeated both Toledo and Colorado to advance to the second weekend before falling to Texas. Aird is one of the best coaches in college volleyball right now, by leading Indiana to its best season in program history and signing historic recruiting classes, waking what he once called “a sleeping giant.” 

It’s safe to say that Aird has awaken that sleeping giant. So much so that after the historic 2025 season Aird started his 2026 off with signing a contract to keep him coach of IU until 2031, IU announced on Tuesday.

But the first time I met him, in spring 2024, he was occupying a different role on campus: the interview subject for a sports media class, where we students were testing our on-camera presence. Aird was there with two of his players, Madi Sell, an experienced transfer from Missouri, and Reese Hazelton, a high school recruit turned December early enrollee. 

The three of them had been co-existing for no more than two months, and that made the big question to the two players obvious: “Why IU?”

Both Sell and Hazelton gave the same answers: glowing details about who Aird was as a human, not just a coach. Aird sat and listened to the praise in his trendy OVO sweatshirt, not even a smirk when hearing what his players think make him so special. 

Aird described Indiana as a place that could be nationally relevant in the volleyball world if things were simply done right. But there are many ways to do things right, and what’s most interesting about Aird is how he’s chosen to do them. 

Coming from national powerhouse Penn State, as a player turned graduate assistant, he knew what it would take to bring the Hoosiers from the gutter. From his first days at IU, he’s done everything his way, bringing in likeminded people to accomplish the ultimate likeminded goal, win. In 2025, now the big question isn’t “Why IU?” It’s “How high can IU go?”

“This to me is the start of very exciting times,” Aird said when I interviewed him in October.

* * *

Aird was born into a culture of loving sports north of America’s border in London, Ontario. But he suffered from bad asthma and was unable to play early in life. When sports finally became an option, basketball was the first real love for Aird. Then found his niche on a court with different lines, a ball that lacked color and a net with a negative connotation. 

But the ultimate theme here is, a male gravitated to a female sport, when in 2025 that trend tends to be the opposite.

Canada’s sports love mainly resides indoors; with courts and of course rinks. As a freshman in high school and predominantly a basketball player, Aird looked up to one of the (male) volleyball seniors, one of the better players in the country. That influence was the start of Aird’s volleyball career.

“That was the north star for me. So where as the American guys grow up and it’s the quarterback they want to emulate or the starting power forward. But for me volleyball was the show,” Aird said.

After a desire to be a sports agent and a business law degree at Penn State, Aird’s coach from his playing days for the Nittany Lions  wanted him to stay on staff as an GA. The decision to do so would pay off, leading Aird to his next gig at Auburn and then Indiana.

“I had a great opportunity to do it young, and fast forward I’m in my mid-forties and have been doing it for 25 years.” Aird said. 

Aird has seen a lot of changes in those 25 years and his time in the college game. When you think of college sports, national coverage mostly stems from football and men’s basketball. Also, the rarely occasional women’s basketball phenomenon that gravitates the world like Caitlin Clark. To many, that’s enough for college, people still need brainspace for professional sports as well. 

But over the past couple of years, I couldn’t help but notice conferences, like the Big Ten, have pushed for more and more volleyball coverage. This includes a primetime national TV slot on Saturdays and Sundays, but also a national broadcast during the week from time to time (right along with an increased social media presence). A predominantly female sport that just spews dopamine with every action in this high paced game. What could go wrong for these conferences? Well, nothing, the sport is drawing a ton of eyes online and in arenas.

The approval of N.I.L. laws incentivize wealthy schools in power conferences to push volleyball just as hard as the previously mentioned “powerhouse” and “coverage driven” sports. Schools like Indiana, are investing and trusting in people like Aird. A man with a strict plan, doing everything his way, through low lows early and the high highs of today.

* * *

Before each home game, Aird is welcomed with an abundance of cheers and claps as well as the “Crimson Chaos” student section chanting “Steve, Steve, Steve” after he both takes the floor and is introduced after the starters. In-game, Aird sits during most if not all points and does most of his coaching in between sets when teams switch ends. 

Most of the in-game tactical coaching and substitutions are done by assistant coaches Kevin Hodge and Matt Kearns. The two both call out defense strategy while facing serves by talking to the active players by standing in a position both in front of them but also on the sideline while holding a thick lawyer style note pad to where the serving opponents cannot see their mouths move.

With my two seasons of actually watching this team you tend to believe Aird when he says he is a “very” resilient human being. When he does coach, there is no screaming, there is no singling out, there is no one player’s fault. A win and lose both as a team attitude. 

“I will keep showing up and fighting every single day, like full stop,” Aird said.

Aird’s mentioned resilience and short memory for when things go wrong has helped him a lot during his coaching career. Specifically in 2023 where he felt his Hoosier squad was good enough and had sufficient wins to make the NCAA tournament. The idea about getting better and only looking toward “the next thing” served him well. 

“I think a lot of times when that happens to people they throw their hands up or they quit or they stop short just before the gold,” Aird said.

What Aird preaches remains consistent in every facet: surrounding yourself around good people who you trust, whether that’s players or coaches.

“Try to get the right people in the gym, try to get the right people on staff and then go after it like crazy,” Aird said. 

* * *

With the landscape of college sports forever fluid, Aird has had to take on a new way of business with recruiting and a program oriented in “the process.” The decision favors recruiting high schoolers over the transfer portal and vice versa, one of the main dilemmas for all coaches in today’s NCAA landscape.

“When we got here it was very much the old school. We got to recruit and build it slowly,” Aird said. “Portal recruiting is a lot like speed dating. You are trying to get to know somebody in five minutes.” 

Aird is not one to dwell on the negatives of this day and age, comparing it to a taxi driver being mad about Uber.

“You can’t be mad about what you don’t have,” Aird describes when discussing the new world of collegiate athletics and who it fortunes. “Indiana cares about us, they are doing a great job at trying to help us out,” Aird said.

“Steve is extraordinary because he puts his best foot forward in everything he does and is a great role model for us,” freshman Victoria Gray said to me in October. Gray owns a perfect perspective for this dilemma of recruiting. Due to her recent recruitment story and timeline, especially as a high schooler this time a year ago, Gray experienced this first hand. 

Aird took the time to recruit a high schooler over a possible seasoned vet with tournament experience, like the aforementioned Sell. 

Gray seemingly was manufactured to play for Aird, a volleyball superstar while also a finalist of Ms. Basketball in the state of Michigan. The way the recruiting process shook out, it seemed they both agreed with that statement.

“The first phone call we ever had was all over the place,” Gray said. “We rarely talked about volleyball it was ‘how my life was’ ‘ how my family was’, he cares about me,”

Gray’s words are the feelings of the entire roster and staff. Aird’s biggest win to date came on Nov. 2, 2025, taking down none other than his alma mater and national powerhouse Penn State in a dominant sweep.

To add onto Gray’s comments, others just scratching the surface of the program must feel the same way. On Nov. 12, Aird and Indiana signed its third top 15 recruiting class in the last six years. 

Plus, with the signing of his new contract, expect Indiana to be a power in Big Ten volleyball for the foreseeable future.

This story was originally written for Sports Writing with Craig Fehrman at the IU Media School. My thanks go out to Aird, Gray, Jared Rigdon, Craig Fehrman and Alex McCarthy for making this story possible.

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Key Takeaways

• Chase joins LOVB as founding partner across professional league and 87 youth clubs in 28 states
• Partnership delivers Chase Money Skills financial education to 24,000 athletes and 3,500+ coaches nationwide
• LOVB’s inaugural pro season generated 191 million social media impressions and sold-out matches
• Volleyball ranks as fastest-growing team sport for girls, with 46 million U.S. players and 900+ million globally
• Chase adds LOVB to sports portfolio including US Open, KPMG Women’s PGA Championships, and Golden State Valkyries

Partnership Scope and Scale

League One Volleyball announced Chase as a founding partner across its professional league and 87 youth clubs nationwide. The agreement makes Chase the official banking partner for an organization serving 24,000 athletes and more than 3,500 coaches across 92 locations in 28 states.

Chase joins LOVB’s partnership roster alongside other professional women’s sports properties including the US Open, KPMG’s Women’s PGA Championships, and the WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries. The bank also maintains partnerships with athletes including Alex Morgan and A’ja Wilson.

Financial Education at Center of Agreement

The partnership centers on Chase Money Skills, a financial education program that will reach LOVB athletes at youth and professional levels. The program provides tools, guidance, and mentorship designed to help athletes manage their financial futures.

“Having Chase join LOVB as a founding partner is a tremendous validation of the community we’re building and the momentum volleyball is having across the country,” said Michelle McGoldrick, Chief Business Officer for LOVB. “Chase’s dedication to supporting athletes at every stage mirrors our commitment to redefining what’s possible in women’s sports.”

Chase will also support LOVB coaches through educational forums including the LOVB Coaches Summit and LOVB Coaches newsletter.

LOVB’s Expanding Platform

LOVB enters its second professional season with athletes holding 23 Olympic medals, 101 All-American honors, and multiple NCAA championships. The league ranks as one of the top three women’s volleyball leagues globally.

The organization’s inaugural pro season drew substantial engagement, with sold-out matches, 191 million social media impressions, and 1.1 million fans watching Finals content. LOVB’s fan base skews 68% female, with strong representation across generations: 30% Millennial, 26% Gen X, and 21% Gen Z.

Volleyball continues its growth trajectory as the fastest-growing team sport for girls in the U.S., with 46 million domestic players and more than 900 million worldwide.

Strategic Positioning in Women’s Sports

Kate Schoff, Head of Sports & Entertainment Marketing at JPMorganChase, noted the alignment between LOVB’s athlete development pathway and Chase’s financial education goals. “Just as LOVB develops volleyball skills from youth to pro, Chase is committed to building lifelong financial skills that empower players at every stage of their journey,” Schoff said.

The partnership extends Chase’s presence across multiple women’s sports properties and creates access to a nationwide youth sports community through LOVB’s club network.

Growth Trajectory Continues

The Chase partnership provides LOVB with resources to scale its financial education programs while expanding its professional and youth operations. With volleyball’s participation numbers climbing and LOVB’s network spanning nearly 30 states, the organization has positioned itself at the intersection of youth sports development and professional competition.

The financial education component addresses a gap in athlete development programs, introducing money management skills early in athletes’ careers rather than waiting until professional contracts arrive.

via: LOVB

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Are you a brand looking to tap into the world’s most passionate fanbase… youth sports?

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About Play Up Partners

Play Up Partners is a leading youth sports marketing agency connecting brands with the power of youth sports. We specialize in youth sports sponsorships, partnerships, and activations that drive measurable results.

Why Sponsor Youth Sports?

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A preview of the Case Western Reserve University varsity athletic events for the 11th week of the winter season (January 5-11) and a recap of the events from the winter break (December 8-January 4). Schedule is subject to change with updates posted on athletics.case.edu when they are known.

Last Week’s Recap

#21/#23 Wrestling (6-0)

• Won all three of their matchups at the Chocolate Duals hosted by Messiah University on December 20 and all three of their duals at UAA Challenge hosted by New York University on January 3
• CWRU defeated 22nd-ranked Ithaca 30-17, 19th-ranked Messiah 23-20, 11th-ranked Arcadia 31-16, Centenary 31-9, Gettysburg 25-17, and Johns Hopkins 27-16
• Seniors Art Martinez, Thomas Wagner, and Aidan Gassel, and first-year Hunter Keane all went 6-0 over winter break 

Men’s Basketball (3-0)

• Defeated Hiram 92-74 on December 10 on the road, Allegheny 85-65 on December 13 on the road, and Kalamazoo 97-80 on December 30 at home
• Sophomore guard Matthew Ellis led the Spartans in scoring against the Terriers and Gators, scoring 19 points against Hiram and dropping 25 against Allegheny
• Senior guard Anand Dharmarajan scored a career-high 30 points against the Hornets

Women’s Basketball (2-1)

• Defeated Oberlin 68-55 on December 29, lost to 23rd-ranked Baldwin Wallace 76-52 on December 30, and won 75-65 over Geneva on January 3
• Junior Mya Hartjes led all CWRU players with 19.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game during the three contests, shooting 53.7% (22-of-41) overall, 52.0% (13-of-25) from three-point range, and converting both of her free throw attempts
• Hartjes and senior guard/forward Emily Plachta were each named to the All-Baldwin Wallace Holiday Classic Tournament Team with Plactha adding 16.0 points and 3.5 rebounds per game

Wednesday, January 7

Schedule

CWRU Men’s Basketball (7-3) at La Roche (3-9)

Pittsburgh, Pa. · Kerr Fitness & Sports Center

5:00 PM

Live Stats | Video 

Saturday, January 10

Schedule

CWRU Wrestling (8-2) vs. Manchester (3-4)

Claude Sharer Duals

Cleveland, Ohio · Horsburgh Gymnasium

12:30 PM

Live Results | Video | Digital Program

CWRU Men’s Basketball (7-3, 0-0 UAA) at Carnegie Mellon (8-3, 0-0 UAA)

Pittsburgh, Pa. · Highmark Center

1:00 PM

Live Stats | Video

CWRU Wrestling (8-2) vs. Mount Union (7-4)

Claude Sharer Duals

Cleveland, Ohio · Horsburgh Gymnasium

2:00 PM

Live Results | Video | Digital Program

CWRU Women’s Basketball (7-4, 0-0 UAA) at Carnegie Mellon (7-3, 0-0 UAA)

Pittsburgh, Pa. · Highmark Center

3:00 PM

Live Stats | Video 

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa men’s volleyball team swept the Big West Weekly Awards following a dominant two-match victory over New Jersey Institute of Technology, January 2 and 4.

Kristian Titriyski was named Big West Offensive Player of the Week, while setter Tread Rosenthal earned both Setter of the Week and Defensive Player of the Week honors. Setter Magnus Hettervik rounded out the sweep as Freshman of the Week.

Titriyski averaged 3.83 kills per set and 5.17 points per set while hitting .439 in the series. He was the only player on either team to record double-digit kills across the two matches and added a team-best five service aces. The recognition marked his third career offensive honor and seventh overall weekly award from the conference.

Rosenthal totaled 11 blocks, averaging 1.83 per set, and directed an offense that hit a combined .517 with just 11 attack errors on 118 attempts. In the January 2 season opener, he tied his career high with eight blocks in a straight-set victory.

Hettervik, a freshman from Stavanger, Norway, made his collegiate debut in the second match, recording three assists and his first career service ace.

The Rainbow Warriors return to action, hosting No. 7 Loyola Chicago in a two-match series at Bankoh Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center, January 8 and 9.

Read more at Hawaiiathletics.com.

Greg Franklin is taking the reins  of the Allen Community College track and field team.

Franklin, previously ACC assistant track and field coach, replaces Vince DeGrado, head coach for almost 20 years. DeGrado is now the school’s endowment director.

The Red Devils enter their first indoor meet Saturday at the Friends University First Chance Qualifier at Wichita States University.

“It’s nothing big. I was already a head coach prior to coming here,” Franklin said. “For Vince, he needed a new start. He had been doing this for a long time. He was a coach here when I was in JUCO running track. I ran for Pratt.”

Franklin competed in DI track at Middle Tennessee State University by way of Pratt Community College after a successful high school career at Prattville High School in his home state of Alabama. 

Franklin won All-Sun Belt honors in indoor track and was a three-time NJCAA All-American while competing for Pratt.

After his competition days were over, Franklin worked his way up from assistant to head coach of Butler Community College track program. 

After more than eight seasons with the Grizzlies, Franklin moved to Allen, providing a perfect complement to DeGrado’s specialty being distance running. 

With the women’s team finishing ninth at the NJCAA national meet last spring and the men taking 16th, Franklin is excited to see the progress they made over the past six months at Saturday’s debut.

“I’m excited. This is going to be a great year, and we brought in a lot of great kids this year,” Franklin said. “They will do well. RaNayla Moten was on the 4×100 last year that won nationals. She was second in the 100 and fourth in the 200. She made a really big impact last year. This year, she will do extremely well.”

Franklin said he uses the indoor track season as a primer for the outdoor season. With both teams finishing in the top 20 at nationals, he hopes to use the Friends University First-Chance Qualifier to give his athletes a baseline to improve upon until they return to nationals in May.

“I always use indoor to mold the first half of your race, so when you get outdoors, it really counts and matters,” Franklin said. “Some kids just want to run for their country and the U.S. trials, so we use indoor to prepare for that. Last year, even though I was an assistant, I watched what Vince did, how he handled things and with a mindset to learn how to progress the program. Vince dominated the distance side and did a really great job. He carried the Allen program for years, so I just want to continue what he was doing.”

Glen Charles Lietzke passed away on December 25, 2025 after a private journey with leukemia for more than four years. He battled with the same fierce dedication and resolve that he brought to his career in volleyball. For more than four decades, Glen provided innovative leadership that helped grow and strengthen the volleyball community both within Texas and across the country.

Glen’s contributions to volleyball began at the collegiate level. He coached at the University of Wisconsin at River Falls, Southwest Missouri State, and most significantly as an assistant coach at the University of Texas where they won the 1988 NCAA National Championship.

During Glen’s time in collegiate volleyball, he was inspired to build the game across all levels, and began to pour his time into the sport at the youth level. Glen created Austin Junior Volleyball, setting a standard of excellence that influenced clubs across the country. He coached two girls’ national championship teams and created tournaments that prepared players to perform at the highest collegiate levels. Similarly, Glen was a tireless advocate for boys’ volleyball at both the club and collegiate levels, most notably through his work with the First Point Volleyball Foundation and the creation of the First Point Collegiate Challenge, a men’s NCAA volleyball showcase.

This pioneering vision was recognized by multiple organizations. Glen was awarded the George J. Fisher Leader in Volleyball in 1998, inducted into the American Volleyball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2018, and inducted into the 2022 Greater Austin Sports Foundation Hall of Honor. However, these awards mattered less to Glen than the people he worked with and for. His vision helped athletes and coaches believe in themselves, improving the game of volleyball by inspiring everyone to think bigger and do better.

For Glen, what was most important though, was his family. 

He is survived by his wife, Kathy, and children, Nathan, Lauren; and beloved dogs, Moose and Stormi.  Born on March 6, 1954 in Minneapolis, MN, Glen was preceded in death by his mother Lorraine Begin Lietzke and father Clarence Willard Lietzke. Glen is also survived by his brothers, Craig and Jim, and countless nieces and nephews.

The Lietzke family will hold a memorial service to celebrate Glen’s exceptional life on Friday, January 2 at 10:30 a.m. at the Chapel on St. Andrew’s Episcopal School campus with a reception following at Highlander Hall. The Lietzkes request that those in attendance wear either navy blue, or their favorite AJV, LSC, or University of Texas attire to remember Glen’s legacy of growing the game of volleyball and of creating lifelong friendships and opportunities.

In lieu of flowers, the Lietzke family asks that you consider donating to two organizations: JVAA Scholarship Fund or the MD Anderson Cancer Center (P.O. Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210-4486), indicating Dr. Abbas Leukemia in memory of Glen Lietzke in the memo section of the check or donating online https://www.mdanderson.org/leukemiagiving..