In a season filled with firsts, it seems fitting head coach Luke Reynolds should add another milestone to the 2023 Charleston season.
The second-year Golden Eagle leader was named Bob Sweeney Memorial EIVA Coach of the Year on Tuesday, April 18, in a vote of conference coaches. He is Charleston’s first EIVA Coach of the Year and first EIVA individual award winner.
The native Australian brought years of experience playing and coaching on the international level to Charleston, and his impact has been dramatic.
Reynolds guided the Golden Eagles’ to the best start in program history, winning their first 14 matches, on their way to the program’s first season with a winning record, first win against a ranked opponent, first appearances in national rankings (AVCA and Off the Block), first AVCA National Player of the Week (setter Diego Villafane) and their highest finish in the EIVA regular-season standings. They take a 22-6 overall record, 5-5 in the EIVA, into the conference tournament as the No. 3 seed, facing No. 6 NJIT at 4:30 p.m. April 19 in the opening round.