Harper College Women's Volleyball

Vilsoet is entering his 20th season at the helm of the Harper College volleyball program in the fall of 2021. Since he became head coach in 2002, the Hawks have posted a 535-292 overall record, including a 144-43 mark in N4C play.  Vilsoet has earned plenty of hardware during his tenure at Harper as he is a seven-time District Coach of the Year, six-time Regional Coach of the Year and five-time Conference Coach of the Year; plus 2016 National Championship (Heidi Hutchinson) Coach of the Tournament;  the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) 2016 Regional AND National Two-Year College United States Marine Corps (USMC) Coach of the Year, and AVCA 2017 Regional Coach of the Year. In 2016, Harper College won the NJCAA Div III National Championship with a 43-1 record overall and 12-0 in N4C Conference, and in 2017 went to the National Championship match again and was the NJCAA Div III National Runner-up with a 37-6 overall record; and 12-0 in N4C Conference play again.  Both years, Harper College finished the regular season ranked #1 in the National Poll. Vilsoet's teams have won the Region IV Tournament seven times. At the NJCAA National Tournament, Harper won the National Championship in 2016, and lost in the National Championship final match in 2017.  Harper finished in fourth place three different times (2002, 2005 and 2008). Vilsoet also has a track record of developing players as he has coached 20 All-Americans;  most recently in 2019. In the offseason, Vilsoet coaches at Sky High Volleyball Club (since 2004).  Sky High Junior Olympic teams practice at the Canlan Sportsplex in Lake Barrington; Sky High regional teams practice at Harper College in Palatine, IL.   A former Midwest Volleyball professional sand doubles player, Vilsoet was named Midwest Volleyball Professionals (MVP) Amateur Sportsman of the Year in 1996.  He has been playing in various leagues for over 30 years in the Great Lakes Region and is also IMPACT certified. Currently, Vilsoet has 18 players that are currently playing in College or at a University after Sky High club or Harper College volleyball seasons. Vilsoet has a Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Northern Illinois University, which he obtained in 1994.  He also has a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science and Mathematics (double major) from Illinois State University in 1980.  Before ISU, Vilsoet graduated from Harper College in 1978, with both an Associate Degree in the Arts, and an Associate Degree in Science.   

Jill Hoffman begins her tenure as the head volleyball coach at Harper College ahead of the 2026 season, bringing a strong connection to the program, the community, and a diverse background as both a student-athlete and coach. A Hersey High School and Harper College alum, Hoffman returns to Harper with deep local roots and firsthand experience within the Hawks athletic tradition. As a member of the Harper volleyball program from 2014–2016, she competed on teams that finished fourth and sixth in the NJCAA national polls, contributing to one of the program’s most successful stretches. Hoffman’s athletic career extended beyond volleyball, showcasing her versatility as a multi-sport athlete. In addition to volleyball, she competed in water polo and softball at Harper, before continuing her collegiate career at McKendree University, where she was a captain of the women’s water polo team. She later continued competing internationally while pursuing graduate studies at Durham University. Her coaching experience spans both the high school and club levels, including roles with Hersey High School, NSO Volleyball Club, and MOD Volleyball Club. She has also served as an IHSA referee, further deepening her understanding of the game. In addition to volleyball, Hoffman has coached water polo and worked with youth programs, demonstrating a broad commitment to athlete development. Hoffman holds a Master’s degree in Visual Culture from Durham University and a Bachelor’s degree in Art Education from McKendree University, after beginning her academic journey at Harper College. With strong ties to the local community and a passion for developing student-athletes, Hoffman is committed to building upon Harper’s tradition while continuing to grow the program both on and off the court.