Indiana State University Women's Volleyball

Ted Kopacz was named the 11th head volleyball coach in Indiana State program history in December 2025. He joins the Sycamores by following stints at Colorado State, Nebraska Omaha, and Colorado, as well as with USA Volleyball. Kopacz spent two seasons at Colorado State as the lead defensive coach, implementing an opportunistic style of play and mindset focused on improving team defense. The Rams went from last in the conference in opponent hitting efficiency in 2023, to first in both 2024 (.190) and 2025 (.187). Among his individual work included daily practice planning focusing on blocking, team defense, middle/setter offense and overall team development, mapping individual development plans for each athlete.   The Rams’ defensive success propelled Colorado State to both the 2024 Mountain West Conference regular season and tournament championship, earning the program’s first NCAA Tournament Berth since 2019. He guided 2024 AVCA All-American Malaya Jones during the run, while Jones and Emery Herman both recorded AVCA All-Region honors.   He also served as the head coach of the 2024 Mountain West All-Star team that finished as the Silver Medalists at the Global Challenge Tournament held in Pula, Croatia.   Prior to the Rams, Kopacz spent the last two seasons as an Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at the University of Nebraska Omaha. At Omaha, he mentored the setter position and assisted in the development of offensive game-plans. Kopacz helped Omaha to their first D1 NCAA tournament appearance and first Summit League Championship in 2023. His work with the program included mentoring AVCA All-American McKenna Ruch, while also helping guide Ruch and Shayla McCormick to AVCA All-Region honors. Kopacz started his college coaching career at the University of Colorado in January of 2021 as a Volunteer Assistant Coach. With the Buffaloes, he assisted with the training of first contact and floor defense and helped design scouting reports and prepare the scout team. The Libertyville, Illinois native played club volleyball at Indiana University where he was a captain and earned All-Big Ten and All-MIVA honors. Kopacz graduated from Indiana with a degree in Informatics and Computing with a specialty in Sports Marketing and Management. After graduation from Indiana in 2016, he worked in Benefits Administration, most recently as a Senior Account Manager at bswift, while consulting for several different clubs and high school teams in the Chicagoland area.  

Indiana State volleyball head coach Ted Kopacz announced the hiring of Jordan Holland as the program’s new assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. Holland will begin with Indiana State on March 2, 2026.   Holland joins the staff by way of the University of Evansville, serving as the Volleyball Graduate Assistant for the last two seasons. At UE, she trained the team’s liberos and defenders, including Ainoah Cruz who finished eighth in NCAA Division I volleyball and led the Missouri Valley Conference in digs per set (5.16). Cruz earned a nod to the 2025 Second Team All-MVC Team.   “What excites me the most about joining the Indiana State volleyball program,” said Holland, “is the fact that I grew up in Indiana and I’ve coached volleyball all over Indiana – I’ve played volleyball all over the state of Indiana. Growing up living here and playing the game here – Midwest volleyball, specifically Hoosier volleyball, is a special thing. With the sport growing, I don’t think there’s a better state I could be in.”   She continued: “I bring a sort of easy-going but also an always-competitive nature. Whenever I walk in the gym – one of my philosophies is I always want to have fun, but we’re always going to compete; and we’re always going to hold ourselves to high standards and be the best versions of ourselves.”   Holland was the lead contact for academics for Evansville where three Purple Aces were named to the MVC Scholar-Athlete Team, all earning a 3.88 GPA or better. In 2024, Holland was on staff and played a role in the development of UE’s Guilia Cardona who earned First Team All-MVC and AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention honors. She finished averaging 5.60 kills per set, the leader among all NCAA Division I volleyball players.   From the first phone call, it was clear that Jordan possesses the drive to be great at all that she does,” said Coach Ted Kopacz. “Jordan has sought out unique work experiences in her young career that make her highly qualified and will enable her to make a tremendous impact here at Indiana State.     Jordan’s honesty, vulnerability, and excitement throughout the interview process left a lasting impression on the Sycamore Volleyball Program and we are incredibly excited for Jordan to be joining the team as we embark on this next great chapter of Indiana State Volleyball!    Please join us in giving a warm Terre Haute welcome to our new Assistant Coach, Jordan Holland!”   The Mishawaka, Ind. native earned the AVCA 2025 Coaches 4 Coaches Scholarship, awarded to young coaches pursuing a career coaching volleyball, covering the full cost to attend that year’s AVCA Convention. Holland attended the 2025 AVCA Convention after earning the scholarship.   Holland currently coaches at Evansville United Volleyball Academy as Master Coach for all the 15u age groups, planning and executing practices for all five teams. In that role, she is head coach of the 15u Black team (1s); she also worked as the recruiting coordinator for the club. The team recently won first place in the 2026 Presidents Day Club Invite. Prior to that role, she was the head coach of the 16u 2’s team.   Earlier in her coaching career, she worked at Empowered Volleyball Club in Fort Wayne, Ind. with the 17u and 18u divisions. In her first year, she lived in Fort Wayne to train with Katie Crow who went onto play Division I volleyball at Purdue Fort Wayne. Crow ended her time at PFW finishing fourth in career kills, fourth in career digs, and first in sets played, earning her AVCA All-American Honorable Mention honors her senior year.   Holland is a 2024 graduate of Manchester University and was a four-year member of the volleyball team. She is currently pursuing her master of science in leadership from Evansville and will earn her degree this June 2026.

Indiana State Volleyball Head Coach Ted Kopacz announced the hiring of a second assistant coach, Nathan Marshall. He will begin with the program the week of May 11, 2026 in the role of Assistant Coach & Technical Coordinator.   Marshall, comes to Indiana State after a two-year stint at Indiana Tech in Fort Wayne as their Men’s Volleyball Graduate Assistant Coach. He was the top assistant, involved in all aspects of the NAIA program from recruiting to practice planning to fundraising. Over the two years, the Warriors:   In 2026 set the program record for team kills (1,504), assists (1,401), digs (1,232), hitting percentage (.265), and block assists (404) Was top 15 in the country in hitting percentage, aces per set (1.49), and blocks per set (2.54) In 2026 led the league and was the No. 6 team in NAIA in blocks per set (2.53) Finished with 10 all-conference athletes Fourth appearance in program history in the NAIA National Tournament, placing fifth with a No. 9 national ranking   Marshall noted one skill area he is bringing to the program are his technical skills. “I am bringing knowledge in biomechanics and how they relate to the sport, analytical skills that will give our program the competitive edge for statistical analysis, and video feedback for player development and pregame preparation,” said Marshall.   “Nathan has a unique set of skills that will serve Sycamore Volleyball and will propel our training and scouting to the next level!” said Coach Kopacz on Marshall. “He comes to Indiana State after working with two highly successful programs in Purdue Women’s Volleyball and Indiana Tech Men’s Volleyball, helping both programs go deep into postseason play. He’s had great mentors who rave about his ability to learn and his dedication to his teams! Nathan will play an invaluable role in the success of Sycamore Volleyball this season and beyond! Please help us give a warm Terre Haute welcome to Nathan Marshall, Sycamore Volleyball’s newest Assistant Coach!”   The Greenwood, Indiana native, in addition to his assistant coach role, served as the head coach for Indiana Tech’s reserve team that finished 14-3 in his two seasons as he earned his MBA with concentrations in business analytics and sport management.   “The Sycamores are turning over a new leaf, and I wanted to be a part of something that is building and moving in the right direction. There’s a clear vision for what the program wants to become, and I was drawn to the people, the staff, the team, and the environment as a whole,” stated Marshall when asked why he choose to come to Indiana state.   That wasn’t his first role in a head coaching position, serving as head coach of Empowered Volleyball Club for the 17U National Team since August 2024. Prior to that position, he was the head coach for the 16U team and assistant master coach for The Academy Boiler Juniors Volleyball Club for four years.   “My time as a coach at all of these levels has taught me a lot about leadership and adaptability. The lesson that has remained constant, no matter the age, gender, or level of competition, is that communication and relationship-building are everything. You have to meet players where they are, not just athletically but personally.”   Marshall’s playing experience before turning to the coaching side came from Purdue University as a libero for the men’s club team. His team in his final season in 2024 won the D1AA National Championship, and in 2022 his team was ranking No. 3 in the nation. His playing experience was in tandem with earning his degree in energy engineering technology from Purdue and being a student manager for the Purdue Women’s Volleyball team in his junior and senior seasons.   “I’m just really grateful for the opportunity to be part of this program. I’m excited to keep learning, to build strong relationships with the players, and to contribute however I can to the team’s success. I think we have a group that’s capable of doing something special, and I’m looking forward to being part of that process every day.”   Mashall played high school volleyball at Roncalli where the team ranked fourth, first, and second over his first three seasons, respectively, and his final season was canceled due to the coronavirus.