Tim Horsmon

Head Coach

Tim Horsmon returned as the head coach of the Flyer volleyball program on Dec. 18, 2013 and completed his 16th overall season at UD in 2024.

"Dayton is a very special place. From a volleyball perspective, it was a great situation when I was here before. I am returning to a family. There were so many great people that helped build our Dayton volleyball tradition. I will be coming back to something I cherish very much. The university and Dayton community will be a great place for our family." - Tim Horsmon

Horsmon has 406 wins over 16 seasons at Dayton and is the program's winningest coach. That includes the Flyers' first run to the NCAA Regional in 2024 after a 31-3 overall mark, an 18-0 Atlantic 10 record, and spending every week ranked in the AVCA Top 25 coaches' poll. The 18-0 conference record is the program's third undefeated conference season in the last four years. An eight-time A-10 Coach of the Year, including in 2024, Horsmon has led the program to 11 A-10 regular season titles and 11 A-10 Championship titles.

2024's historic season saw Lexie Almodovar earn AVCA third team All-American as well as Atlantic 10 Player of the Year. She is the seventh player in program history to be named All-American multiple times, and is the first third team All-American since 2020. Almodovar finished her career as the all-time leader for career kills with 2,033, and set the Flyer record for kills in an NCAA Tournament match when she had 34 in a five-set thriller at No. 16 Baylor. UD had two All-Midwest region first team members in addition to Almodovar, as Alyssa Miller and Liana Sarkissian received nods.

The 2021 season saw a return to the NCAA Second Round for the Flyers, Jamie Peterson's third-consecutive AVCA All-America, AVCA Midwest Region Player of the Year and A-10 Player of the Year honors, Horsmon's second-consecutive and sixth overall A-10 Coach of the Year award as well as Livie Sandt's Setter of the Year accolade and Maura Collins' co-Libero of the Year award. With his 14th win of the season, Horsmon surpassed the program's former all-time winningest coach, R. Elaine Dreidame (310) and his 323 Dayton career wins ranks first in program history.

The COVID-19-shortened 2020 season was competed during the spring of 2021 and the Flyers tallied a 14-2 overall mark on their way to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Following Dayton's hard-fought 3-2 loss to sixth-seeded Washington, Jamie Peterson was named an AVCA Third Team All-American, only the third such accolade for a Flyer in program history. Peterson, setter Bridget Doherty and Horsmon each claimed year-end A-10 accolades while Peterson and Horsmon also earned AVCA Regional of-the-Year honors.

After a down-to-the-wire, 3-2 win over VCU on its home court in the 2019 A-10 Championship, the Flyers made the program's 13th overall appearance in the NCAA Tournament, squaring off against Louisville in first-round action. Senior Lauren Bruns was named A-10 Player of the Year, to the AVCA All-America Honorable Mention Team and to the Senior CLASS Award All-America Second Team for her work both on the court and in the classroom and community. Senior Margo Wolf was named A-10 Libero of the Year for the second time in her career while freshman Alli Papesh earned A-10 Rookie of the Year accolades while sophomore Brooke Westbeld joined Bruns on the AVCA All-America Honorable Mention roster.

Following the 2017 season, senior Amber Erhahon was named the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and went on to garner AVCA All-America Honorable Mention accolades. Horsmon also celebrated senior Jane Emmenecker's fourth A-10 Setter of the Year award as she became the first person to accomplish that feat in conference history.

Horsmon led the 2016 squad to its second 30-win season in three years, the program's second-consecutive 14-0 Atlantic 10 season and the A-10 Regular Season and Tournament titles. UD made the program's 12th appearance in the 2016 NCAA Tournament and the team headed into national post-season play ranked 23rd in the AVCA Top 25 poll. The team's final RPI came in at 33. For the third-consecutive season, Horsmon was tabbed Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year and junior Jane Emmenecker claimed her third-consecutive Setter of the Year award in 2016. Sophomore Margo Wolf picked up Libero of the Year accolades and a total of seven players were honored on A-10 All Conference Teams.

In 2015, Horsmon put together a 25-match winning streak after opening the season 0-4 in 2015. The Flyers repeated as both the A-10 Regular Season and Tournament Champions in 2015 and Flyers earned four of the five major conference awards in senior Alaina Turner as Player of the Year, senior Janna Krafka as Libero of the Year, sophomore Jane Emmenecker as Setter of the Year and with Horsmon picking up his third-career Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year award. Dayton once again returned to the NCAA Tournament, and after dispatching Villanova in the First Round, UD squared off against Penn Statein round two.

Horsmon wasted no time righting the Dayton Flyers’ volleyball ship after returning to the program prior to the 2014 season. UD went 30-6 in 2014, making the program’s 10th NCAA Tournament appearance and advancing to the Second Round for the sixth time. UD also claimed both the Atlantic 10 Regular Season and Championship titles for the fifth time in the last six years. Post-season accolades were aplenty for UD in 2014, beginning with the Flyers earning four of the five major conference awards in Turner as Player of the Year, Krafka as Libero of the Year, Emmenecker as Setter of the Year and with Horsmon picking up his second career Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year award. Turner, along with senior Isolde Hannan, went on to earn AVCA All-American Honorable Mention as well.

In 2013, Horsmon’s Maryland squad placed two players on ACC All-Conference rosters and in 2012, he mentored his sixth AVCA All-American Honorable Mention selection. Seven of his players were named to the ACC All-Academic Team during his time at Maryland.

From 2003 through 2007, Horsmon led the University of Dayton to unprecedented success. In five seasons, his teams won four Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament Championships (2003, 2004, 2005, 2007) and earned four NCAA Tournament berths (2003, 2004, 2005, 2007) -- the first conference tournament championships and NCAA berths in program history.

During his first tenure at Dayton, Horsmon coached four consecutive A-10 Players of the Year (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006), back-to-back Atlantic 10 Setters of the Year (2005, 2006), two A-10 Rookies of the Year (2003, 2007), four A-10 Most Outstanding Players of the Conference Tournament (2003, 2004, 2005, 2007) and eight AVCA Honorable Mention All-Americans. His 2007 team finished with a 33-2 overall record, a second-round NCAA Tournament appearance and a ranking in the CSTV/AVCA Top 25 Coaches Poll, reaching as high as 12th during the season. Horsmon was named the 2007 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Northeast Region Coach of the Year and the 2005 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year.

From 1999 through 2002, Horsmon served as head coach of Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh. Almost immediately, he turned around a program coming off five consecutive losing campaigns. In four seasons, Horsmon guided the Colonials to three Northeast Conference regular-season championships (1999, 2001, 2002), four Northeast Conference Tournament championships (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002) and four straight NCAA Tournament appearances. His record in conference play was a dominant 42-2. Horsmon earned Northeast Conference Coach of the Year honors in 1999 and 2002.

In addition to his collegiate experience, Horsmon served as head coach of the adidas Penn Juniors 18-year-old Elite team and the Southern Maryland Juniors - both of which are club Junior Olympic teams. The adidas Penn Juniors were regionally ranked on the east coast and the Southern Maryland Juniors were ranked No. 1 in the Chesapeake Region in 1999.

Horsmon, a Maryland native, began his coaching career in 1996 as head coach at Calvert High School in Prince Frederick, Md. In three seasons, he amassed a 60-5 record and won the Class 3A Maryland State Championship and a regional title in 1998. That year, Horsmon was named Washington Post Coach of the Year.

Horsmon holds a bachelor of science degree from Frostburg State University (1991) and a teaching certificate from Salisbury State University (1993). He is a member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association and serves as a voter for the AVCA Top 25 poll.

Horsmon and his wife, Krista, reside in Beavercreek along with their children Parker and Mason Mikesch and Tanner and Laini Horsmon. Krista Horsmon, current mental training coach for several Dayton teams and Players Box Director at Southbrook Church, was an All-America setter at Michigan Tech where she was later head coach and she also served as an assistant coach at Maryland. Parker graduated from Ohio State in 2022 where he played all four years on the Buckeyes' men's volleyball team and is an assistant coach for the University of North Carolina women's program. Mason will begin his senior year at the University of Dayton majoring in business/finance.

Tim Balice

Assistant Coach

Tim Balice will be in his eighth year as a Dayton volleyball assistant coach in 2025 after returning to the staff prior to the 2018 season. He also serves as the team's recruiting coordinator. A former Dayton volunteer assistant coach, Balice spent the previous three seasons as head coach at Urbana University in Urbana, Ohio. He focuses on offensive training and recruiting for the Flyers.

"Timmy does a great job training our setters and is our offensive coordinator. We were excited to bring Timmy back after his stint as our volunteer. From that time, I loved his energy and ability to train in the gym and I thought that same infectious personality would be great on the recruiting trail." - Head coach Tim Horsmon.

Under Balice's tutelage, setter Brooke Westbeld was named to the AVCA All-Midwest Region First Team and AVCA All-America Honorable Mention Team in 2018, In 2020, setter Bridget Doherty was named the A-10 Setter of the Year and to the AVCA All-Midwest Region First Team, and Livie Sandt was named A-10 Setter of the Year following the 2021 season. Most recently, Alyssa Miller earned an AVCA All-Midwest Region First Team nod and was an All-Atlantic 10 First Team selection.

Dayton set the record for highest hitting efficiency in program history in 2024 by hitting .293, breaking the record set by the 2020 Flyers that hit .289.

Balice raised the level of success for the volleyball program at Urbana, where he constructed the first back-to-back winning seasons and the first post-season victory during the school's NCAA era. He posted an overall record of 52-48 (27-21 MEC) after three seasons, most recently leading the Blue Knights to their fifth-straight conference tournament appearance in 2017. UU finished 2017 19-17 overall while tying the program's best record in league play at 10-6.

During his time as a volunteer assistant at UD, Balice aided the Flyers to a 30-6 finish in 2014 and a Second Round appearance in the NCAA Tournament, losing to eventual National Champion Penn State. During the 2014 campaign the Flyers were able to win both regular season and conference tournament titles while finishing with a RPI of 56 while receiving votes in the AVCA Top-25 Poll.

Prior to his first stint at Dayton, Balice managed Kalamazoo Valley, compiling an overall record of 36-28, including a 20-8 mark in Michigan Community College Athletic Association (MCCAA) play. He led the Cougars to back-to-back conference tournament appearances as well as twice qualified for the NJCAA Regional Tournament. The Cougars also had one All-American, one Regional Player of the Year, one Conference Freshman of the Year and eight All-MCCAA selections.

Balice received two bachelor of science degrees (exercise science and biomedical science) in December of 2010 from Western Michigan. He was a varsity student-athlete for WMU’s football program, starting his career as a walk-on and eventually earning a full athletic scholarship. During his time as a student-athlete at WMU, Balice played on the men's club volleyball team as a middle hitter (2005-2007) as well as the WMU club baseball team. Additionally, Balice coached the club women’s volleyball team at WMU 2010-14.

Christa Cooper

Assistant Coach

Christa Cooper joined the Dayton volleyball staff in late March of 2023 and will be in her third year on staff for the 2025 season.

Tasked as the Flyers' defensive coordinator, Cooper has helped Dayton become the top defense in the Atlantic 10 in her time in the Gem City. UD had the fifth-best opponent attack percentage in the entire NCAA in 2024, holding opponents to .142 on the campaign, and has led the A-10 in defensive hitting efficiency each of the last two seasons.

Cooper comes to Dayton after three seasons as head coach of Division II New Haven where she tallied a total of 54 wins. She led the Chargers to 16 wins in 2022 with three players earning All-Conference honors, led by sophomore Macy Brown who earned NE10 First Team distinction for the second time. In 2019 and 2021, the Chargers earned to back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Championship field (2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19).

Prior to New Haven, Cooper spent five seasons as an assistant at Ferris State. She helped lead the Ferris State Bulldogs to five straight Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) regular season and tournament championships and five appearances in the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional, including advancing to the championship game in back-to-back seasons. Overall during her tenure at Ferris State, the Bulldogs collected a record of 138-28 (.831), including a mark of 79-6 (.929) in the GLIAC.

Before to her appointment at Ferris State in 2014, Cooper spent a short time as a volunteer assistant coach at Division I Montana State. An Andover, Minn., native, Cooper joined the Montana State staff after three years as a Division II assistant coach at the University of Mary (N.D.). Originally joining the staff at Mary as a graduate assistant, Cooper was involved with nearly all phases of the program in her three seasons, including scouting, recruiting, film breakdown, practice planning, skill development, budget, travel and equipment.

She began her collegiate coaching career as an assistant coach on the Division III level at St. Catherine (Minn.) University in 2010 where she worked primarily with blockers and assisted in the recruiting duties as the Wildcats qualified for the conference tournament for the first time in over 16 years. Also, she was a coach with the Minnesota Premier and Minnesota Select club teams with her Select team finishing in the top 20 at the AAU National Tournament.

Cooper graduated Magna Cum Laude from Michigan Tech in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in psychology and a minor in coaching. A two-time team captain and four-year letterwinner, she led the Huskies to two NCAA Division II Regional Tournament appearances and three GLIAC Tournament bids. Additionally, the right side helped Michigan Tech lead the nation in blocks during her senior campaign, finishing the season second on the team with 92.

Katie Austin

Assistant Coach/Director of Operations

Katie Austin (Valeria) joined the Dayton volleyball staff in February 2024 and will be in her first season with the Flyers for 2024.

She comes to Dayton after two seasons at Houston Christian serving as a graduate assistant for the Huskies where she assisted in all positions/aspects of the game but was the primary trainer for middle blockers. Austin helped lead HCU to a 2022 Southland Conference regular season title and a runner-up finish at the league championship. In 2023, the Huskies were semifinalists at the Southland Conference Tournament and finished the season ranked sixth nationally in digs per set. She served as the director of social media operations and content creation for Houston Christian Volleyball in addition to coaching responsibilities.

A 2022 AVCA Coaches for Coaches Scholarship recipient, Austin has worked summer camps with numerous clubs and academic institutions across the Midwest and Texas regions. During her tenure at HCU she also assisted at indoor and beach clubs including Houston Skyline and Third Coast Juniors.

The Dodgeville, Wisconsin, native was a four-time team captain, who led Judson University to two NCCAA National Championship appearances, both times making the All-Tournament Team as a middle blocker. The Eagles made it to the national semifinals twice, finishing as the national runner-up in 2019. Austin was a five-time CCAC All-Conference selection, including four first team honors, a five-time NCCAA Division I North Central All-Regional First Team selection, three-time AVCA & NAIA Mideast All-Region honorable mention and two-time NCCAA Division I All-American. Austin finished her career with 1,587 kills, which ranks second all-time in school history, 484 total blocks (3rd all-time), 181 service aces (3rd all-time) and set the school record with 658 consecutive sets played.

In addition to her accolades on the court, she made the CCAC and NCCAA All-Academic/Scholar Athlete Team and was twice nominated for Judson’s Female Athlete of the Year.

Austin earned a bachelor of arts in art and graphic design from Judson in 2021 and finished her master of business administration at Houston Christian in December of 2023. Her husband, Morris Austin, is a professional baseball player in the Chicago White Sox organization.