The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced today that University of Illinois Springfield head coach Kamille Jones has been named to this year's Thirty Under 30 list.
"It is a tremendous honor," said Jones. "It gives me significant pride to receive national recognition at my age. I am foremost grateful to God, my family and friends, my mentors, my colleagues, our University, athletic department, student-athletes, the AVCA, and all others who champion me daily to pursue my goals to my fullest ambition. I would certainly not be at this point today without you."
Jones recently completed her second season at UIS where the Prairie Stars went 12-13 and made their fifth-straight GLVC postseason appearance. UIS fell in the GLVC Quarterfinals to Missouri-St. Louis, a team that would eventually make the Division II Championship Semifinals. Three GLVC volleyball teams were nationally ranked or receiving votes for much of the 2022 season, including No. 15 Lewis that UIS took down in three sets last September.
Prior to UIS, Jones was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of South Florida. She competed as a Murray State Racer in her undergraduate years before finishing her collegiate career with one year at West Texas A&M. Jones, an All-Lone Star Conference selection, then became the program's graduate assistant coach in 2018.
Thirty Under 30 honors up-and-coming coaches at all levels of volleyball—college, high school, and club—and the recipients serve in a range of roles, from head coach to volunteer assistant to club director.
2023 AVCA Thirty Under 30