University of Southern Indiana Women's Volleyball

Jeffrey Aucoin M'22 (OH-coin) became the 13th head coach in USI Volleyball history in March 2023. Aucoin leads the Screaming Eagles into their fourth year in the NCAA Division I and the Ohio Valley Conference in 2026.   In his third season in 2025, Aucoin led the program to the most successful season in school history. Recording the most DI wins at a 19-13 overall record, and the most OVC wins at a 14-4 conference record. The 2025 season ended with a loss in the OVC Tournament semifinals to Morehead State (11/24). Aucoin ushered in a difference-making recruiting class, which, under his direction, helped the team bounce back from the losing record of the 2024 season. Freshman Aysa Thomas was named the OVC Freshman of the Year, the first in program history. USI earned three All-OVC Selections: Ashby Willis on the First Team, and Bianca Anderson and Thomas on the Second Team. This marked the most in a season for the program.   The Screaming Eagles added several broken records and achievements throughout the 2025 season under Aucoin's leadership. With the addition of transfer libero Audrey Small, the Eagles ranked top-3 in the country in digs per set, averaging 17.84/set. The team broke the single-game digs record with 130 total in the regular season final at Western Illinois. By the end of the season, the Eagles had broken the program’s single-season digs record with 2,159 total digs.   In 2024, the Eagles regressed in Ohio Valley Conference play, failing to reach the tournament at 8-22 overall and 3-15 in conference. The Eagles started conference play with a win over Southeast Missouri State, along with a sweep of Eastern Illinois, before regressing down the stretch. However, Aucoin led the Eagles to pivotal conference wins against St. Thomas, Bradley, IU Indy, and Evansville (twice). The Eagles' victories over Evansville marked the first in the NCAA DI era, along with setting an arena attendance record of 824 fans.   In his first season in 2023, Aucoin led the Eagles to their first Ohio Valley Conference Tournament berth, boasting a 10-8 regular season conference record. USI took down Morehead State University in the quarterfinal for the program's first conference tournament victory. Aucoin helped the Eagles earn a 14-game win improvement from 2022, finishing 15-16 overall.   Aucoin comes to USI after a 10-year stint with Harvard University as the recruiting coordinator and assistant women's volleyball coach. During his time with the Crimson women's volleyball program, Aucoin helped guide the team to back-to-back Ivy League championships and their first NCAA tournament appearance in school history. He was able to achieve a top 40 recruiting class and coached 25 All-Ivy League selections, three AVCA All-Region selections, and two Ivy League Rookie of the Year athletes.   Aucoin spent three seasons with the Crimson men's volleyball program as an assistant coach. During his time with the program, he guided the team to its all-time highest AVCA national ranking at No. 13 and coached eight All-EIVA selections.   Aucoin graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 2011 with a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology, focusing on sports studies. He was also a four-year member of the New Hampshire men's club volleyball team and was named NCVF tournament MVP after leading the Wildcats to the 2011 NCVF Division I-AA National Championship. In 2013, Aucoin earned his master's degree in physical education and sport from Ball State University, where he was a MIVA Academic All-Conference selection as a member of the Cardinals' DI varsity men's volleyball team. He would continue his academic pursuit and receive an MBA at the University of Southern Indiana in May 2022.   Aucoin at USI Year                 Overall Record            OVC Record                OVC Tournament Place 2023                 15-16                            10-8                             Semifinalist 2024                 8-22                               3-15                             N/A 2025                 19-13                            14-4                             Semifinalist TOTAL             42-51 (.451)                  27-27 (.500)       

Sara Aucoin enters her fourth season on the staff for the Screaming Eagles after joining in the 2023 season as an assistant coach. Aucoin debuts her coaching career after spending four seasons at the University of New Hampshire as a setter/libero for the women's volleyball team. She was voted as America East Setter of the Year and second-team all-conference after her stellar senior season. In 2009, she earned Co-Defensive Specialist of the Year honors and was a second-team America East All-Conference selection as a junior. In 2010, Aucoin became the eighth player in program history with 1,000 digs and just the second in program history to record 1,000 digs and 1,000 assists. Aucoin graduated from UNH in 2011 with a degree in exercise science. Aucoin, formerly known as Sara Heldman, resides in Evansville with her husband, Jeffrey, and three children.