Ball State University Athletics
Iandolo Named Men's Volleyball Head Coach as Cardinals Approach Start of 2026 Season
December 16, 2025 | Men's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell has officially named Mike Iandolo as the Cardinals' men's volleyball head coach, removing the "interim" tag from the title he has worn since last June.
An assistant coach the past four years at Ball State, Iandolo will lead the Cardinals into their season-opening match on Saturday, Jan. 3, at Worthen Arena against Trine University. Ball State opens play in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association on Feb. 5 at Worthen against Queens College.
"After observing Mike Iandolo lead our men's volleyball team for the past six months, I am confident he is the right coach to guide our program into the future," said Mitchell. "He has earned the status as head coach with the way he has commanded the respect of his team and by the level of preparation he has demonstrated in terms of recruiting and competitive development. I look forward to Coach Iandolo continuing to promote and advance the excellence and consistency of Ball State men's volleyball."
"I am extremely grateful to Jeff Mitchell and President Mearns for the trust and opportunity to continue leading this program as head coach," said Iandolo, who begins his fifth year on the Ball State campus. "I have been fortunate to serve this program as an assistant coach, as interim head coach and now in this role full time. During that span we have achieved three MIVA regular season championships, a MIVA tournament championship, a Final Four appearance, a MIVA Player of the Year and multiple All-Americans. This success is a direct reflection of the commitment, character and work ethic of our student-athletes and staff. I truly believe in what we are building at Ball State and I am excited to lead this program going forward. My family and I are proud to continue calling Muncie and Ball State our home."
As a Ball State assistant, Iandolo and the Cardinals won MIVA regular season crowns in 2022, 2023 and 2024 and reached the 2022 NCAA Final Four. It was the Cardinals' first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2002, but Ball State has missed the national stage the past three seasons.
No stranger to the MIVA, Iandolo was a two-time All-MIVA first team selection as a setter at Lewis University. He was the head coach at the University of Charleston (W.Va.) for three seasons (2019-21) prior to arriving at Ball State. Following his graduation and a grad assistant coaching post at Lewis, he coached club volleyball and played internationally before being named an assistant coach at Grand Canyon University for the 2018 season.
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An assistant coach the past four years at Ball State, Iandolo will lead the Cardinals into their season-opening match on Saturday, Jan. 3, at Worthen Arena against Trine University. Ball State opens play in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association on Feb. 5 at Worthen against Queens College.
"After observing Mike Iandolo lead our men's volleyball team for the past six months, I am confident he is the right coach to guide our program into the future," said Mitchell. "He has earned the status as head coach with the way he has commanded the respect of his team and by the level of preparation he has demonstrated in terms of recruiting and competitive development. I look forward to Coach Iandolo continuing to promote and advance the excellence and consistency of Ball State men's volleyball."
"I am extremely grateful to Jeff Mitchell and President Mearns for the trust and opportunity to continue leading this program as head coach," said Iandolo, who begins his fifth year on the Ball State campus. "I have been fortunate to serve this program as an assistant coach, as interim head coach and now in this role full time. During that span we have achieved three MIVA regular season championships, a MIVA tournament championship, a Final Four appearance, a MIVA Player of the Year and multiple All-Americans. This success is a direct reflection of the commitment, character and work ethic of our student-athletes and staff. I truly believe in what we are building at Ball State and I am excited to lead this program going forward. My family and I are proud to continue calling Muncie and Ball State our home."
As a Ball State assistant, Iandolo and the Cardinals won MIVA regular season crowns in 2022, 2023 and 2024 and reached the 2022 NCAA Final Four. It was the Cardinals' first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2002, but Ball State has missed the national stage the past three seasons.
No stranger to the MIVA, Iandolo was a two-time All-MIVA first team selection as a setter at Lewis University. He was the head coach at the University of Charleston (W.Va.) for three seasons (2019-21) prior to arriving at Ball State. Following his graduation and a grad assistant coaching post at Lewis, he coached club volleyball and played internationally before being named an assistant coach at Grand Canyon University for the 2018 season.
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