IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa head volleyball coach Jim Barnes announced Thursday that Brian Yale has joined the Hawkeye program as associate head coach and Aubrey Marsellis has joined the Hawkeye program as an assistant coach.
Yale joins the Hawkeye coaching staff after previously serving in the same role and as recruiting coordinator for Barnes at Tulane University.
Marsellis joins the Hawkeye coaching staff after one season as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for Oral Roberts.
“I’m incredibly fortunate to have Brian join me for a seventh year,” said Barnes “He is a tremendous coach and recruiter. Our players will be served extremely well by Brian, and they will appreciate how hard he works for them. He is well respected in the recruiting world and will make the state of Iowa a top priority.”
“Aubrey is a smart, dynamic coach that will balance our staff in many ways,” said Barnes. “She has great experience as a recruiter as well and is an excellent communicator. She will be a tremendous mentor to our players on and off the court.”
Tulane’s recruiting classes in 2018, 2019 and 2020 received honorable mention status according to PrepVolleyball.com.
Prior to his time in New Orleans, Yale served as an assistant coach with Clemson in 2015.
Under Yales tutelage, Leah Perri and Keelie Arneson led the ACC in statistical categories. Perri ranked first in the league and 19th in the NCAA in attacks per set (12.13) while ranking first in the ACC and 25th nationally in total attacks (1,358). Arneson averaged 5.24 digs per set, good for first in the league and 18th in the NCAA while pacing the league with 576 digs.
Prior to that, Yale was the head coach at the University of Texas-Pan American from 2011-14 where he led his 2014 squad to the Western Athletic Conference Tournament: the program’s first appearance in a conference tournament with an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament since 1996.
Yale was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Stephen F. Austin from 2005-10. He helped coach one Honorable Mention All-American, one Southland Conference Player of the Year and 10 All-Southland Conference award winners. He was part of the Lumberjacks’ staff for the program’s first ever NCAA Tournament win, beating Alabama.
Prior to making the jump to collegiate athletics Yale was the head coach at Genoa High School in Genoa, Ohio, from 1995-2005 posting a 121-51 overall record.
The Eden, New York, native played collegiate volleyball for Bowling Green State from 1993-97 and graduated from the school with a Bachelor of Science in Education (Exercise Specialist) in 1997.
Marsellis joins the Hawkeye coaching staff after one season as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for Oral Roberts.
Prior to her time with the Golden Eagles, Marsellis was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Davidson from 2019-2021. She guided a pair of Wildcats to Atlantic 10 postseason honors in 2019 as Hattie Rodriguez and Madeline Wynn were named to the A-10 Second Team and All-Rookie team, respectively.
In 2018, Marselis served as an assistant coach at Brown University, helping the Bears to their best season since 2014. She helped coach Eliza Grover and Sabrina Stillwell to All-Ivy League honors.
Marsellis was Florida State’s director of operations from 2016-17 as the Seminoles made two NCAA Tournament appearances and reached the 2016 Sweet Sixteen.
The Tulsa, Oklahoma, native was a three-year starter at Austin Peay, where she played setter and opposite. She was a two-time all-tournament selection and 2015 team MVP. She ranks among the program’s career leaders in assists (7th) and total blocks (16th).
Marsellis earned her bachelor’s degree in communications and public relations and graduated magna cum laude from Austin Peay in 2016. She added a master’s degree in coaching and athletic administration, while graduating summa cum laude, from Concordia University Irvine in 2017.