Parker Mikesch - Women's Volleyball Coach - University of Louisville Athletic

Team photo after punching ticket to Final Four

Parker Mikesch

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
Parker@GoCards.com

Dan and Maria Durbin Head Volleyball Coach Dan Meske added assistant coach Parker Mikesch to his Cardinals’ coaching staff in February of 2025.

In his first season as assistant coach, Mikesch helped lead UofL to a 26-7 record. The Cardinals bowed out of their 34^th NCAA appearance with 23-25, 22-25, 25-23, 25-18, 15-12 loss to eventual NCAA Champion Texas A&M in the Regional Semifinal in Lincoln. The Cardinal lost Third Team All-American Cara Cresse, a first round MLV draft choice, and Molly Wilson to graduation but return the rest of the starters from the 2025 season. Chicoine received AVCA All-America Honorable Mention and was joined by setter Nayelis Cabello. The trio of Chicoine, Cabello and Cresse, along with opposite hitter Kalyssa Blackshear were named AVCA First Team All-South Region.   Blackshear and Payton Petersen received All-ACC Second Team honors, and Blackshear was selected ACC Freshman of the Year and was added to the All-ACC Freshman Team. Louisville finished 2025 ranked first in the nation in total blocks (386.5) and second in blocks per set (3.09). The Cards’ defense held opponents to a .173 hitting percentage on the season, good for second in the ACC and 18th in the country. Cresse finished first in the conference in both total blocks (179) and blocks per set (1.46), with Hannah Sherman just behind her in third, logging 174 total blocks and 1.44 blocks per set. Cabello quarterbacked UofL to a .270 hitting percentage, landing the Cards fourth in the ACC and 24th overall, and she posted 10.42 assists per set, making her second in the conference and 24th nationally.

Mikesch served as assistant coach at the University of North Carolina from 2023 to 2024.. In 2024, he helped guide the Tar Heels to a 22-7 record, going 14-6 in the ACC play. The 2024 campaign was the 31st time in program history Carolina reached the 20-win mark and the first time since 2021. UNC made its 20^th appearance in the NCAA tournament where they beat Yale before falling to eventual national champion Penn State. Mabrey Shaffmaster was named to the All-ACC Second Team and Jackie Taylor was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team.
During his first season at UNC, Mikesch was part of a staff that guided junior outside hitter Mabrey Shaffmaster to her third career All-ACC and all-region recognitions, while freshman Sydney Nolan earned All-ACC freshman team honors. Carolina tallied sweep victories over West Virginia, Loyala (Md.), Coastal Carolina, Virginia, Syracuse, Boston College and Virginia Tech, posting a 7-6 record in Carmichael Arena. The Tar Heels also earned come-from-behind victories against Duke and Wake Forest. The Tar Heels finished the season 13-14, going 7-11 in ACC play.

Carolina tallied sweep victories over West Virginia, Loyala (Md.), Coastal Carolina, Virginia, Syracuse, Boston College and Virginia Tech, posting a 7-6 record in Carmichael Arena. The Tar Heels also earned come-from-behind victories against Duke and Wake Forest. The Tar Heels finished the season 13-14, going 7-11 in ACC play.

Mikesch joins the Tar Heels after spending the 2022 season as the volunteer assistant coach at Louisville, a year that saw the Cardinals advance to the NCAA National Championship game against Texas.

His duties with the Cardinals included assisting with opponent scouting, game-preparation, in-game scheming, in-gym player development, film study and practice planning.


Mikesch played libero and was a two-time captain at Ohio State from 2019-2022. He finished his career as a Buckeye having played in 264 sets and 81 matches, tallying 57 digs, 372 assists, 10 blocks and three aces.

The numerous awards he received while at Ohio State include being a four-time OSU Scholar-Athlete, four-time MIVA Academic All-Conference honoree and three-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and Academic All-Big Ten. He graduated from OSU in 2022 with a double major in Psychology and Sports Industry.

Mikesch also coached at the club level as a private lesson trainer and team coach at the Elite Volleyball Club in Columbus and the KIVA Volleyball Club in Louisville. There, he planned and ran individual lessons or group training sessions for variety of position groups.