Eureka College Adds Men’s Volleyball, Names Noah Ray as Inaugural Head Coach

EUREKA, Ill. – Eureka College Athletic Director Sara Shaw has announced the addition of men's volleyball as the department's 17th intercollegiate sport offering and named Noah Ray as the first head coach in the history of the program.

"We are thrilled to welcome Coach Ray to our athletics team," Shaw said. "He brings energy, enthusiasm, a wealth of knowledge, and an unwavering commitment to both student and competitive success. When building a completely new program, it is crucially important to find the right fit; we are so fortunate Coach Ray will be the architect of our Men's Volleyball program. It's an exciting time for EC athletics!"

"I would like to thank Sara Shaw for the opportunity to join a fantastic athletic department," Ray said. "Her vision and strategic goals for Eureka College athletics are why we are going to continue to excel forward as an athletic department. I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity to lead the men's volleyball program during its inaugural season. The future here at Eureka College is extremely bright and I am elated to be a part of the Red Devil family!"

Ray brings an impressive background and tons of experience at the collegiate and club levels. Most recently, he served as the men's volleyball head coach at St. Andrews University, a position he began in November 2024. Before his time at St. Andrews, Ray was the head coach of both the men's and women's volleyball programs at Marian University and previously led the women's volleyball team at Birmingham-Southern College.

Ray has also made significant contributions as an assistant coach at Juniata College for the men's volleyball team, as a graduate assistant with Southeastern Oklahoma State University's women's program, and as a student assistant at Midway University, where he played on the men's team.

In addition to his collegiate experience, Ray has been active among the club volleyball scene as a coach for FEVA Volleyball Club, Bluegrass Lightning Boys Volleyball Club, and Out of System Volleyball Club.

Ray holds a Master of Science in Sports Administration from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management from Midway University, where he was also a member of the men's volleyball team. He minored in Human Resource Management and Psychology.

The Red Devils will compete in the Midwest Plains Volleyball Conference within the National Collegiate Volleyball Federation beginning in January 2026. Although the program will initially compete at the club level, Eureka has plans to transition to NCAA competition in the coming years.