LOUDONVILLE, NY – Tyler Kanelos, who amassed 104 victories over the past four seasons as the head coach at Division II University of Charleston, has been named the 10
th head coach in Siena College Volleyball history. A proven and consistent winner spanning a decade as both a head and assistant coach across the NCAA Division I and II levels, Kanelos teams have achieved a remarkable 237-76 (.757) record.
"Tyler's track record of building championship-caliber programs and developing student athletes both athletically and personally makes him the perfect fit for Siena Volleyball," said Siena College Vice President and Director of Athletics
John D'Argenio. "His commitment to success and his ability to establish a strong culture will have a tremendous impact on our program."
Kanelos brings 10 seasons of highly successful collegiate coaching experience with him to Siena, highlighted by his most recent four seasons leading Charleston. He previously served on coaching staffs at the Division I level at both Marshall University (2020) and the University of Dayton (2018-19), and in the Division II ranks at both the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith (2016-17) and the University of West Florida (2015).
Kanelos teams have made five total NCAA Tournament appearances and won 20 or more matches in each non-COVID shortened season he has spent on the sidelines. He has helped recruit, mentor, and develop two American Volleyball Coaches Association Division I Region Players of the Year, as well as 11 total All-Americans, 17 All-Region selections, and five Conference Athletes of the Year.
"I want to thank President Seifert, Director of Athletics
John D'Argenio, and Associate Athletic Director
Lori Anctil for the opportunity to lead Siena Volleyball," said Kanelos. "The Siena Volleyball program has a rich tradition of success, and I look forward to building upon that success in the future. I am extremely excited to work with our outstanding student athletes and help them achieve their goals on the court, in the classroom, and in life."
Kanelos arrives in Loudonville following a transformational four-year stint as the head coach at Division II University of Charleston in Charleston, West Virginia, where he piloted the Golden Eagles to a stellar 104-34 (.754) overall record. Charleston amassed a 60-14 (.811) mark in Mountain East Conference action and defended their home court, posting a 56-8 (.875) overall record at the Wehrle Innovation Center during his tenure.
This past fall, Kanelos guided Charleston to a 25-8 record including a second-place finish in the MEC South Division at 12-3. On Nov. 2, Kanelos scored his 100
th collegiate head coaching victory, becoming the ninth fastest coach to 100 wins amongst the 134 active DII coaches who have reached the milestone.
The pinnacle of Kanelos success at Charleston came during the 2022 season when he led the Golden Eagles to the MEC South Division Championship and the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance in 15 years. Charleston led all DII teams nationally with 33 victories, while achieving the highest winning percentage in the program's 54-year history. The MEC Coach of the Year, Kanelos developed the program's first AVCA All-American Pia Selke, and capped the campaign by guiding the Golden Eagles to their first NCAA Tournament win since 1998.
Kanelos began his tenure at Charleston by leading the squad to a 10-win improvement in 2021 with 22 victories. In 2023, the Golden Eagles won 24 matches while receiving votes in the AVCA Top-25 poll during the season.
"Tyler's passion for volleyball and his commitment to fostering student athlete success align perfectly with Siena's mission," said Associate Athletic Director
Lori Anctil. "We are thrilled to welcome him to our Siena family, and look forward to the future of Siena Volleyball under his leadership."
Prior to his first head coaching opportunity at Charleston, Kanelos spent the previous three seasons assisting at the DI level, where his teams combined to post a 55-22 (.714) record. He served as an assistant coach at Marshall during the 2020-21 COVID impacted season, following a two-year stint as a volunteer assistant at Dayton.
The Flyers won consecutive Atlantic 10 Regular Season and Tournament Championships during his time in Ohio, while achieving a 45-17 overall record including a 25-3 A-10 mark. Responsible for training the setters, Kanelos aided in the development of 2018 All-American setter Brooke Westbeld who finished second nationally in triple-doubles.
Kanelos first joined the collegiate coaching ranks spending three seasons as an assistant coach at the DII level at Arkansas – Fort Smith and West Florida. In his two seasons with the Lady Lions, Arkansas-Fort Smith achieved a 50-13 record while winning back-to-back Heartland Conference Regular Season Championships and the 2016 tournament title. In Kanelos first season on the sidelines in 2015, West Florida went 28-7 while capturing both the Gulf South Conference Regular Season and Tournament Championships.
A native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Kanelos is a 2015 graduate of Lock Haven University with a bachelor's degree in sports administration. After playing his freshman season at Division III Thiel College, Kanelos matriculated to Lock Haven where he joined the women's volleyball staff as a student assistant. A precursor to his future success, the Bald Eagles posted three straight 20-win seasons and won two Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division titles with Kanelos on staff.
Kanelos takes the reins of a storied Siena Volleyball program which has won nine Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament Championships.