Ball State University Athletics
Men's Volleyball
- Title:
- Head Men's Volleyball Coach
- Email:
- michael.iandolo@bsu.edu
Mike Iandolo was named the official head coach of the Cardinals men’s volleyball program on December 18, 2025, removing the interim label given to him over the summer that year. He is in his sixth season in Muncie after taking over for Donan Cruz, for whom he served four years as assistant coach.
In this first year as head coach of Ball State, Iandolo earned the 2026 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) National Coach of the Year award after leading his unit to a Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) regular season and tournament championship, becoming the fourth out of five head coaches in program history to win both titles in their first year. The Cardinals' success gave the program the right to host its NCAA Regional contest versus Pepperdine (May 5), its first time hosting a NCAA Tournament match since 1992. Iandolo guided Ball State to its 17th NCAA Semifinal appearance where the squad eventually fell to UC Irvine in four sets (May 9). At the helm of the Cardinals, Iandolo marched Ball State to a 26-5 record, the most wins since earning 27 in 1997, and a No. 5 national ranking, which included 14 victories over ranked opponents. Ball State reached a stretch of 13 consecutive home victories in 2026, the 10th-most in the history, finishing the year 17-1 inside Worthen Arena. Iandolo was instrumental in his players' success in 2026, as outside Patrick Rogers was named a semifinalist for the AVCA's National Collegiate Men's Player of the Year award. Iandolo also coached five players to achieve AVCA All-American status and four All-MIVA honorees.
Iandolo joined Cruz's staff in advance of the 2022 season and helped the Cardinals to a 23-4 overall record, along with MIVA regular season and tournament titles. The historic season continued in 2022 as the Cardinals made its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2002. The Cardinals earned the No. 2 seed in the event, as well as a bye into the national semifinals.
The 20-win season for Ball State was the first since the 2016 campaign. The Cardinals started the season off hot, earning back-to-back wins over national champion and then-No. 1 ranked Hawai'i. The Cardinals also secured a notable win on the road at then-No. 9 BYU season.
Since the landmark 2022 campaign, Iandolo helped Ball State to 20-win seasons in 2023 and 2024 along the way racking up three MIVA regular season crowns. Cruz stepped down following a 17-13 season in 2025.
Iandolo leads his second program as head coach, following a three-year stint as head coach at the University of Charleston (W.Va.) where he helped the fledgling Golden Eagles place 10 players on the EIVA (Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association) All-Academic squad. Iandolo also played a hand in one of his former players, Eugene Stuart, beginning a professional career.
Before coming a head coach at the University of Charleston, Iandolo spent the 2018 season as the assistant coach at Grand Canyon University, helping the Antelopes to an 18-11 overall record that included a pair of upset wins over NCAA Div. I top-15 ranked teams.
Iandolo also is no stranger to the MIVA (Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association), having been a standout setter at fellow MIVA member Lewis University. During his career as a Flyer, the two-time All-MIVA first-teamer (2009 & 2010) was a three-time Academic All-MIVA selection. Also a three-time recipient of Lewis' Delahanty Award honoring exemplary student-athletes, Following graduation in 2010, Iandolo coached high school and club ball before returning to campus for the 2013 campaign as a graduate assistant coach at Lewis.
He boasts a wide range of coaching experiences including extensive time on the volleyball club scene serving as head coach with the Fusion and 18 White team in Marengo, Illinois.
The Orlando, Florida, native also played professionally with the Florida Wave where he won the Men's Open National Championship and the PVL National Championship in 2013 as well as being named MVP for both. Iandolo later played abroad in Sweden for Falkenbergs Volleybollklubb, earning a silver medal in the Swedish Elite Series and being named Best Setter. He received the same accolades when he played for Nea Salmina a year later.
