LOS ANGELES - Kolby O'Donnell has been named the eighth head coach of LMU women's volleyball following the program's first West Coast Conference Championship since 1996

"I am honored to remain a part of the LMU Volleyball program," said O'Donnell. "I'd like to thank President Snyder, Craig Pintens, and Ashley Armstrong for trusting me to lead LMU Volleyball. I am incredibly grateful to continue building on the foundation we have established here."
 
O'Donnell joined LMU ahead of the 2023 season, bringing an extensive track record of success at the collegiate level. Before arriving at LMU he spent five seasons as the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator at Texas A&M University, where he helped develop multiple AVCA All-Americans and All-SEC performers.
 
Prior to his time in College Station, O'Donnell spent the 2017 season at Louisville, where he made an immediate impact helping the Cardinals double their win total from the previous season en route to an Atlantic Coast Conference championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance.
 
His coaching career also includes four seasons as the top assistant at UC Santa Barbara, along with roles at the University of Miami, Appalachian State University, and Radford University.
 
"We are excited to name Kolby O'Donnell as the next Head Coach of LMU Volleyball," said LMU Athletic Director Craig Pintens. "Kolby has been an integral part of our success over the past two seasons as the Associate Head Coach. He brings a wealth of experience from some of the top programs in the country, and his leadership and vision will undoubtedly elevate our program to new heights."
 
O'Donnell replaces Trent Kersten, who saw immediate success in his two seasons leading the Lions. Together, Kersten and O'Donnell guided LMU to back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 2014 and 2015. Kersten has been named the next head coach at the University of Oregon.
 
"LMU Volleyball is losing a fantastic leader and coach in Trent Kersten," said O'Donnell. "His impact on LMU Volleyball and on me personally has been immeasurable. I am incredibly grateful for his mentorship, leadership, and most importantly friendship. I look forward to honoring his legacy by continuing to grow this program and building on the culture we've created."
 
Over two seasons, O'Donnell and Kersten led the Lions to 45 victories and a return to the NCAA Tournament for the 16th time in program history. The team's 25 wins in 2023 marked the program's highest single-season total in nearly a decade.
 
This past fall, eight Lions were honored with WCC postseason honors, including First Team All-WCC recognitions for Sam Hastings, Paige Flickinger, Mia Schafer, and Sophia Meyers. In 2023, six LMU players received conference recognition, with four earning All-WCC First Team honors.
 
Kersten departs LMU with a 72.5 winning percentage, the highest in program history.
 
O'Donnell will assume his new role immediately.