DAVIS, Calif. — UC Davis volleyball head coach Dan Conners has been named the Big West Coach of the Year, capping a record-breaking regular season for the Aggies, the conference announced Tuesday.

Conners becomes the first UC Davis coach to earn the league's top coaching honor since Jamie Holmes in 2009, who was recognized as Co-Coach of the Year after guiding the Aggies to an 11–5 Big West record. His leadership this season not only propelled UC Davis to new program heights but also produced a near sweep of the conference's major individual awards. Jade Light was named Player of the Year, Mia Starr earned Setter of the Year, and Ximena Cordero Barr was selected Libero of the Year—marking just the second time in program history that UC Davis has claimed Player of the Year honors.

Under Conners' direction, the Aggies dominated the Big West in 2025, rewriting the record books along the way. UC Davis set program and individual milestones, including the most conference wins in a single season, the first Big West championship in school history, the most career wins by a head coach, and the program's first-ever undefeated home season.

UP NEXT

With the No. 1 seed secured in the Big West Tournament, the Aggies will have the next six days off from competition and take on the winner of the UC Santa Barbara and CSUN match on Wednesday afternoon. The Aggies' first postseason match will take place on Friday, Nov. 28, at 3:00 p.m. PT, and will be streamed live on ESPN+.