Cody Hein is in his 17th year as Chico State’s head volleyball coach, and since taking over the program in 2003 has led the Wildcats to more victories than any coach in school history. Establishing himself as one of the most successful and respected coaches in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), Hein has led the Wildcats to six postseason berths and four NCAA Championship Tournament appearances during his tenure. He enters the 2019 season with a 265-193 record at Chico State and a 311-237 mark in 19 years as a Division II head coach.
Under his guidance, Hein’s Chico State players have been just as successful, amassing 46 postseason conference awards, 28 All-West Region selections and 12 All-America honors. Hein himself was named the CCAA Coach of the Year in 2006 and 2016.
Hein’s 2018 Chico State squad posted a 14-12 record in 2018, placing fifth in the CCAA North Division standings. Juniors Bekah Boyle and Kim Wright combined for 597 kills, 47 service aces and 113 blocks, with both players earning Second Team All-CCAA honors.
On August 24, 2018, Hein recorded his 300th career head coaching victory when the Wildcats posted a three-set victory over Academy of Art.
Hein guided the Wildcats to a 17-14 record in 2017 and a third place finish in the CCAA North Division. Chico State peaked during the CCAA Championship Tournament, but the ’Cats fell just short of an NCAA Championship Tournament berth with a loss to Cal State San Bernardino in the conference finals.
The 2016 season ranks as one of the most successful in the program’s 43-year history. Hein led the Wildcats to an overall record of 23-8, finishing atop the CCAA North Division standings with a 15-3 conference mark. The ’Cats reached the CCAA Championship Tournament finals and made their first NCAA Championship Tournament appearance in eight years. Senior Torey Thompson wrapped up her Wildcat career as Chico State’s all-time assists leader (4,586), was named First Team All-CCAA and the conference’s 2016 Player and Setter of the Year, and earned All-West Region and Third Team All-America honors.
Hein not only earned CCAA Coach of the Year honors, but was chosen by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) as the 2016 West Region Coach of the Year.
Hein steered the Wildcats to a 17-14 record in 2015 and a spot in the CCAA Championship Tournament, marking the program’s first postseason appearance since 2008.
On September 7, 2015, Hein posted his 200th career victory as Wildcats head coach with three-set wins over William Jessup and Simpson University.
Hein’s 2014 Chico State squad posted an overall record of 13-13 and finished 11-11 in CCAA play. The Wildcats were led by senior middle hitter Lindsay Quigley, who earned an All-America Honorable Mention in addition to All-West Region and First Team All-CCAA honors.
Hein led Chico State to a 16-13 record in 2013, wrapping up the season with six wins in its last seven outings to place fourth in the CCAA. Thompson made an immediate impact, winning the CCAA Freshman of the Year award in addition to earning First Team All-CCAA, Second Team All-West Region and All-America Honorable Mention accolades.
In 2012, the Wildcats won 10 of their first 11 matches and finished the year with a solid 19-10 record. Outside hitter Alex Shurtz and setter Sable Villaescusa were both named First Team All-CCAA and All-West Region, while also receiving All-America Honorable Mentions.
On September 15, 2012, Hein recorded his 200th career victory as a Division II head coach in the Wildcats’ four-set win over Humboldt State at Acker Gym.
Hein led Chico State to a 19-9 record in 2011 and a fourth place finish in the CCAA.
The ’Cats turned in a successful season in the classroom as well, winning the 2011 University Foundation Board of Governors Award for Academic Excellence, presented to the Chico State women’s team achieving the highest academic success for the school year.
Despite a rash of injuries and a lineup that featured five freshmen and no seniors, Hein coaxed a young Wildcats team to a 14-14 record in 2010. The ’Cats capped off the season by winning three of its last four matches and knocking both San Francisco State and Cal State Monterey Bay out of postseason contention.
On October 23, 2010, Hein became the winningest volleyball coach in Chico State history with a five-set victory over Humboldt State. His 124th victory as a Wildcat moved Hein past Jim Brinton into first place on the program’s all-time wins list.
The 2009 season saw Hein and the Wildcats rack up a 23-9 record. The ’Cats ranked among the country’s top teams in several statistical categories, finishing 19th among Division II schools in kills per set (13.68) and 24th in assists per set (12.5).
In 2008, Chico State boasted a 21-11 record to earn a No. 5 West Region ranking, finishing just outside the Division II national top 25 and reaching the NCAA Championship Tournament Pacific Region semifinals.
Hein’s 100th career coaching victory came on August 24, 2007, when the Wildcats posted a four-set win over Western Oregon. Chico State finished that season 16-13 to earn its second straight NCAA Tournament invitation.
The 2006 season was the Wildcats’ breakout year of the Cody Hein era, as the team earned the program’s first NCAA Championship Tournament berth since 1992 with a 21-6 record—the most victories for a Chico State volleyball team since 1993.
A California native, Hein came to Chico State from Florida Tech, where in three seasons as head coach compiled a 46-44 record. His 2001 Panthers squad broke the school record for wins in a season (21), with two of his three teams ranked in the South Region’s top 10.
Before his time at Florida Tech, Hein was the head assistant at Barry University from 1997–2000. The Buccaneers reached the NCAA Division II Championship Tournament all three years of Hein’s tenure, and played in the National Championship match in 1997. Prior to moving to Miami, he was an assistant coach for the UC Berkeley men’s volleyball program from 1995-97.
Hein played collegiate volleyball at UC Berkeley. There, he was part of three Collegiate Club National Championship teams between 1991–1994.
Hein earned his bachelor’s degree in history at UC Berkeley in 1994 and went on to complete his master’s in sports management at Barry University in 2003.
Hein and his wife Dana, a speech pathologist, have three sons: Austin, Jackson and Davis.
