Maes Joins Cardinal Volleyball Staff
June 08, 2012 | Women's Volleyball
June 8, 2012
Lee Maes, former head coach at the University of Virginia, is set to join the University of Louisville volleyball coaching staff as an assistant according to U of L head coach Anne Kordes.
"I think Lee Maes is an incredible addition to the Louisville volleyball staff," said head coach Anne Kordes. "Not only is he one of the best trainers and tacticians in the game today, but he is a proven recruiter and mentor to his players. It was important to me to hire a coach that could make an immediate impact in our program and effortlessly blend in with the culture of our staff and team."
Maes spent four seasons as the head coach of the Virginia volleyball program after serving as the head women's assistant coach at Nebraska from 2005-2007. He also had stints with both the men's and women's programs at the University of California and served as the head coach for USA Volleyball's Junior National A2 Program.
During his four years with at Virginia, Maes and his staff landed the Cavaliers' first-ever nationally ranked class, as the recruiting class of 2009 was tabbed the 15th-best incoming freshman class in the nation. The staff followed that up in 2010 by signing the No. 9 ranked class - the program's first-ever top-10 ranking.
While with the Cavaliers, Maes was at the helm for several key landmark matches. As coach during the 1,000th contest, he also saw Virginia win its 500th overall match in a victory over rival Maryland as well as the Cavaliers winning their 200th all-time match in their current venue, Memorial Gymnasium - a 3-2 victory over in-state rival Virginia Tech.
At UVa, Maes saw marquee player, Simone Asque, earn back-to-back ACC Player of the Week honors and garner All-ACC team honors. The Cavaliers won their second-straight Jefferson Cup title under Maes and took a set from a top-10 nationally ranked team for the first time in program history - defeating No. 8 UCLA, 25-23, in the second stanza.
During his three-year tenure at Nebraska as an assistant under head coach John Cook, the Cornhuskers compiled a 95-5 record, won the NCAA Championship in 2006, reached the NCAA Championship match in 2005 and the NCAA Regional finals in 2007. Nebraska was the Big 12 Conference Champion each of those three years and produced 13 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Americans, two national players of the year and a Honda-Broderick Award winner. The program also excelled academically. A total of six players were named Academic All-Americans and one received the NCAA's prestigious Top-Eight Award.
In addition to two top-15 ranked recruiting classes at Virginia, Maes was integral in helping recruit back-to-back classes that were rated among the top-five in the nation in his final two seasons at Nebraska.
Prior to his stint at Nebraska, Maes was a member of the University of California women's volleyball staff from 1998-2005. He served as the associate head coach from 2003-05 and was an assistant coach from 1998-2003. The Golden Bears reached the NCAA Tournament each of his last three seasons, a first for California since the late 1980s. He was a part of the 2003 Sweet Sixteen team that finished eighth in the nation after making the second round in 2002. The 2004 squad finished the season ranked No. 17 in the nation after making it to the NCAA Second Round. He was involved in all aspects of the program, including on-court training and opponent scouting, and recruited a total of 11 All-Pac-10 Conference performers.
Maes' first collegiate coaching position was as the head men's volleyball coach at the University of California from 1997-2000. In his first season, he led Cal to the Northern California Collegiate Volleyball League Conference championship and a national runner-up finish at the NIRSA Collegiate Club National Championship in 1998. That season culminated in Maes being honored as Coach of the Year. In all, he coached three National All-Americans for Cal's men. His men's team recorded three straight top-five national finishes (1998-2000), amassing an overall record of 98-27. In 1998, he also served as the interim women's head coach.
Maes also brings an extensive background at the national team level. He led the USA Girls' Junior National A2 Team to a gold medal at both the 2007 European Global Challenge and the 2006 High Performance Championships. In 2004-05, Maes served as an assistant coach for the Women's National Team that earned gold at the 2004 U.S. Open Championships. Maes also served in various coaching capacities with the USA High Performance and National Team Programs for 15 years.
In addition to his work at the national and collegiate levels, Maes directed the Golden Bear girls club volleyball team (Oakland, Calif.) from 1997-2004. As coach of the Forefront 18-1's team, he developed and sent more than 50 prospects on to the collegiate level. In 2003, his Golden Bear team won the 18-Open bronze medal at the Junior Olympic Championships. Maes also had a coaching stint with the Nike Ichiban club (Long Beach, Calif.) from 1993-97, where he helped train and develop current Olympians, Misty May-Treanor and Heather Bown. During that time period, the Nike Ichiban 18's team won an unprecedented five consecutive Open medals at the Junior Olympic Championships, highlighted by winning the 18-Open National Title in 1996.
A native of Long Beach, Calif, Maes began his coaching career as the head girls volleyball coach at his alma mater, Lakewood High School, in Lakewood, Calif., from 1989-97. From 1993-97, he simultaneously worked as the head boys varsity coach at Edison High School in Huntington Beach, Calif. Maes has had several Louisville connections where volleyball Cardinals have crossed his path during his career. He coached former Cardinals Justine Landi and Samantha Dabbs when they were a part of the A2 program. He coached former Cardinal and current director of operations Sarah Drury, when she was with the USA National team. He also recruited and coached Louisville native and current Cardinal Kaitlynn James when she played for Nebraska. U of L assistant coach and former Nebraska star Dani Busboom Kelly was also coached by Maes while he was with the Husker program.
Maes graduated from Long Beach State in 1994 with a bachelor's degree in journalism and a minor in geography. He is a member of USA Volleyball and the American Volleyball Coaches Association.
Maes replaces Kyle Walton, who left to pursue other opportunities.
" Kyle Walton has been more than just a colleague of mine; he has been like a brother, " said Kordes. "I wish him nothing but the best as he begins the next phase of his life as a husband and head coach."
