Indiana volleyball head coach Steve Aird added two new coaches to his staff for the 2024 season, Carly Skjodt and Matt Kearns.
Skjodt, whose role will be the executive assistant to the head coach, was a professional volleyball player for the Orlando Valkries, who play in the Pro Federation. She was an All-American at the University of Michigan, where she helped the Wolverines reach the Sweet 16 in 2018.
Skjodt — the niece of the namesake of Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, Cindy Simon Skjodt — will work with the program before heading to the Pro Volleyball Federation to join the Indy Ignite in their inaugural season in 2025.
“She will be back in Indiana playing professionally in the spring and reached out with interest about learning more about the mechanics of coaching and running a program,” Aird stated in a press release. “She brings so much to the table and her personality, experience and passion will touch every part of Indiana volleyball.”
Skjodt will spend the season working with players and coaches in a role outside of the court. She will gain experience being on a Division I staff while assisting Aird with program requests and needs.
Kearns, who is well known for his volleyball analytics and game preparation, will step into the role of assistant coach. He becomes the third member on the staff to hold this position, joining Rachel Morris and Kevin Hodge.
“Matt comes to us with a great deal of Division I experience and is the perfect fit to complement our staff,” Aird said in a press release. “We will lean on his ability to understand data, crunch film, train players and help us prepare for matches.”
Kearns spent the past season as the head coach at the University of Louisiana Monroe, finishing with a 7-24 record. Before his time as a head coach, Kearns spent six years at Northern Kentucky University as a graduate assistant and an assistant coach.
