EAST LANSING — Michigan State volleyball filled two positions of need on its coaching staff last week, hiring Paul Koncir as associate head coach and Dominique Gonzalez as an assistant coach.

Notably, both coaches were hired away from UTSA, where they held the same positions. Last year, the Roadrunners compiled a 16-14 record (8-6 C-USA), earning their first-ever trip to the National Invitational Volleyball Championship. They fell in the first round to University of Texas-Arlington.

Both coaches bring Big Ten experience to the coaching staff. Before his time at UTSA, Koncir was an assistant coach at Indiana from 2010-2017. There, he presided over the program’s first Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2010. 

He also oversaw several milestones in digs. Caitlin Cox broke the school records for both career and single-season digs at Indiana University while he coached, and Jordan Haverly became the first Hoosier to record 1,500 kills and 1,000 digs.

“Paul has a full understanding of what it takes to compete in the best conference in the country after his eight years at IU,” said MSU coach Cathy George. “His ability to scout, coach, and train our student-athletes to be their best will serve us well and help us achieve the goals we have set as a program.”

Gonzalez, meanwhile, was a three-year starter at libero for Russ Rose’s juggernaut at Penn State. She finished fourth on Penn State’s all-time list of dig leaders with 1,474 and won two national titles with the Nittany Lions.

“Dominique is a dynamic, hardworking, authentic coach with high level experiences that will resonate immediately with our student-athletes,” said George.

Koncir and Gonzalez replace departing coaches Kimi Olson and Jesse Ortiz. Olson retired after 27 years of coaching, while Ortiz departed for unknown reasons.

Ian Drummond is a volleyball beat reporter for Impact 89FM WDBM. Follow him on Twitter at @idrumma.