Jim Barnes

Jim Barnes was selected as the 11th head coach in program history on December 28, 2021.

In his 29 years as a head coach, Barnes has amassed a career record of 498-427 (.538), and nine 20-plus win seasons. He has put together six top-20 recruiting classes and made four appearances in postseason tournaments, including a program first NCAA Sweet 16 run at Baylor.

In 2025 under Coach Barnes, Iowa had its best season since 2016, finishing 15-17 overall and 6-14 in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes got out to a 6-0 start and ended the year with their best home record (10-6) since 2016. The 2025 team posted more overall wins, conference wins and home wins than a season ago and improved its hitting percentage, kills/set and point differential totals. Senior Claire Ammeraal was an AVCA first-team All-Central Region setter, marking Iowa's first all-region selection since 2021. Ammeraal and Milana Moisio were named to the All-Big Ten second team, marking the first time since 2021 that a Hawkeye has landed on the all-conference team. Moisio finished second in the Big Ten with 451 digs. Ammeraal ranked second in the conference with 1,190 assists and was third in the league with 12 double-doubles. Ammeraal was also drafted 22nd overall by the Omaha Supernovas in the 2025 MLV Draft. Junior middle Hannah Whittingstall was named the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 27. She had 15 blocks in a weekend sweep of Michigan State and Rutgers. Graduate Chard'e Vanzandt surpassed 1,000 career kills against Maryland. Freshman Carmel Vares was Iowa's leading hitter in seven matches during her rookie season and was one of two Hawkeyes to have over 300 kills. Hannah Whittingstall finished with the program's most blocks (129) in the rally scoring era. Iowa broke long droughts with wins over Illinois and Ohio State in 2025. The 3-2 win at Illinois was the program's first in Champaign since 2005. Iowa beat Ohio State for the first time since 2008. Thirteen Hawkeyes landed on the University Dean's List and ten were Academic All-Big Ten selections. 

Iowa finished 10-22 in 2024 with a 4-16 record in conference play. Barnes led the Hawkeyes to season-opening victories in San Juan, Puerto Rico, as Iowa defeated Liberty and Providence. Barnes guided Iowa to a 2-0 start in Big Ten play, securing Iowa's best start to league competition since 2008. Iowa improved in several categories in Barnes' third season at the helm, including kills/set, total kills, assists/set and service aces. The Hawkeyes won more matches overall and within the conference than in 2023 and placed higher than their Big Ten preseason projection in 2024. Iowa had 10 Academic All-Big Ten honorees and two CSC Academic All-District selections.

In 2023, Barnes guided Iowa to a sweep of the Fryfest Invitational, including a pair of 3-0 victories over Middle Tennessee State and South Dakota State. The Hawkeyes won two matches at the Hawkeye Invitational, picking up victories over Central Michigan and Missouri State. Iowa wrapped up the non-conference portion of its schedule with road wins over Syracuse and Cornell. The Hawkeyes finished 8-24. Six Hawkeyes earned Academic All-Big Ten honors.

In his first season in 2022, Barnes led the Hawkeyes to their best record (10-21, 4-16 B1G) since 2019, finishing the season on a two-game win streak. Seven Hawkeyes earned Academic All-Big Ten honors and four Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Athletes.

Barnes arrived in Iowa City after spending six seasons (2016-21) at the helm of the Tulane volleyball program. While at Tulane, Barnes led the program to back-to-back National Invitational Volleyball Championship appearances including making it to the finals in 2018, during a 29-win season.

In his first season at Tulane, the Green Wave won 18 matches and was the most improved in the NCAA starting the season with an RPI of 247 and finishing at 90.

Barnes understands the importance of academic achievement and under his leadership Tulane volleyball earned a cumulative GPA of 3.49 for the 2019-20 academic year and a 3.362 GPA in 2017. Barnes had 14 members of the team named to the AAC All-Academic Team.

Before Tulane, Barnes spent 11 seasons as the head coach at Baylor (2004-15), where he became the program’s all-time win leader with 181 victories. Barnes’ tenure in Waco, Texas, included two 20-win seasons, and two NCAA Tournament appearances, including an appearance in the Sweet 16 in 2009.

Barnes produced the first five All-Americans and recruited the first NCAA Player of the Year in Baylor history.

Prior to coaching at Baylor, Barnes spent two seasons at Wyoming. While in Laramie, Wyoming, Barnes turned the program around as the Cowgirls went 20-11 in his first year, posting Wyoming’s first 20-win campaign in 11 years.

Barnes was the head coach at Lamar from 1996-2001, going 128-71 overall. He earned Southland Conference Coach of the Year honors in 1997 and 2001, and won two conference championships.

Barnes got his coaching start at his alma mater of McNeese State, where he spent six years as an assistant coach.

The Lake Charles, Louisiana, native earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from McNeese State in 1994 and 1996, respectively.

Barnes is married to the former Tracy Pittman, and they have two daughters, Brooke Aidan and Jenna Grace.