Carbondale Reporter

Southern Illinois University's Women's Volleyball team has announced the addition of Aleah Hayes to its coaching staff for the 2025 season. Hayes, originally from Ozark, Missouri, previously served as head coach at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas, for six seasons. During her tenure there, she achieved a record of 142-74 and led her team to three consecutive NJCAA tournament appearances.

Head Coach Brittany Harry expressed enthusiasm about the new hire: "I am incredibly excited to add Aleah to our staff here at SIU," she said. "She has had an unbelievably successful career as a head coach at the JUCO level so being able to add her experience and leadership to Saluki volleyball is a huge win for the team and program."

Hayes' achievements at Trinity Valley included guiding the Cardinals to their highest win total in 2023 with a record of 32-7. That year also marked their second-straight Region XIV conference tournament championship and another appearance in the NJCAA tournament. The team's performance in 2022 was particularly notable as they secured their first-ever Region XIV Conference and Tournament championships with a perfect 16-0 conference play record.

Before joining Trinity Valley, Hayes held assistant coaching roles at Columbia College (Mo.) and Evangel University (Mo.). She also served as a graduate assistant while completing her undergraduate studies at Columbia College, where she played on the volleyball team. In recognition of her contributions, she was inducted into the Columbia College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2024.

Expressing her excitement about joining SIU's coaching staff under Brittany Harry's leadership, Hayes stated: "I am extremely excited and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the SIU Volleyball Staff under Brittany's leadership." She added that conversations about the team have been positive and that she looks forward to working alongside Harry and contributing to Saluki volleyball.

In 2022, following TVCC's historic season, Hayes received multiple accolades including Region XIV Coach of the Year honors among others. Throughout her playing career, she consistently earned Academic All-Conference recognition both at Columbia College and Texas Tech.

The Salukis encourage fans to stay updated by following them on social media platforms such as X (@SIU_Volleyball), Instagram (@SIU_Volleyball), Facebook (SalukiVolleyball), or through their mobile app available on major app stores.