McKendree University Athletics

McKendree University Director of Athletics Anthony Francis has named Bob Vollmer as the school's inaugural head coach of its beach volleyball program. Vollmer began his duties as the beach volleyball coach on Jan. 18.

"We are very excited to add Bob Vollmer as the inaugural beach volleyball coach at McKendree University," Francis said. "Bob has made a positive impact on our current volleyball programs since coming to McKendree and his knowledge of beach volleyball will be extremely helpful as we embark on starting a new athletics program."

Vollmer is no stranger to McKendree as he has spent the past nine years serving as a volunteer assistant coach for both the McKendree men's and women's volleyball teams and will also serve as the school's JV head women's volleyball coach.

"First off, the start of beach volleyball doesn't happen without the support of Athletic Director Anthony Francis. I would like to give Anthony a huge thank you for the return of the Junior Varsity program and the start of the Beach Volleyball program here at McKendree University," The announcement of beach has received a great response locally and nationally from the volleyball community and I'm excited to be a part of the growth of the game.I am ready for the opportunity to get on the recruiting trail and start competing in the sand."

The beach volleyball program at McKendree will begin intercollegiate competition during the spring of the 2022-23 academic year.

Vollmer joined McKendree in the fall of 2012 after serving as a boy's assistant coach at Althoff Catholic High School in Belleville, Ill., and an assistant volleyball coach at Lindenwood University-Belleville. He currently is a girl's assistant volleyball coach at Gibault Catholic High School.

Along with his college and high school coaching experience, Vollmer has had extensive experience coaching club level volleyball in the Metro East Area.

Vollmer currently serves as the Director of Illinois Beach Volleyball for the High Performance Volleyball Club. Along with serving as the High Performance's Illinois Beach Volleyball program, he is also the coach of High Performance's Girls 18-&-Under team and the Director of the Indoor Boys program for High Performance.

Additionally, Vollmer founded the Rocket Beach Volleyball Club in 2017. His girls' doubles teams have made multiple appearances at Nationals in Siesta Key, Fla., Orlando, Fla., Manhattan Beach, Calif., Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and AVP Next in Clearwater, Fla.

He also was the founder of the beach volleyball program for Blue Steel Volleyball Club in O'Fallon, Ill., in 2017 and spent nine seasons as an indoor head coach across multiple Blue Steel age group teams.

During his two years (2008-10) at Lindenwood-Belleville, Vollmer helped co-found both the men's and women's volleyball programs and helped lead the program to a NCVF National Tournament appearance.

Vollmer, who is a native of Okawville, Ill., and graduate of Okawville High School, attended Kaskaskia College. He has played with numerous club teams along with selected pro volleyball tours. Vollmer was also a part of an AAU squad that placed second in the nation in the Adult National Division.