FGCU Volleyball has its new head coach and it's a very familiar name. The Eagles hired Florida Southwestern's Thais Baziquetto-Allen as the program's fourth head coach on Thursday.
"I'm excited," Baziquetto-Allen told NBC2. "I am thankful and I am excited for the potential I see at FGCU. To stay in Fort Myers, I love our community. I love our volleyball support. So I am excited to stay, take it a little bit down the road and continue the work.">
Baziquetto-Allen started the FSW volleyball program in 2018. In her six seasons with the Buccaneers, she compiled a 145-25 overall record, won three consecutive NJCAA National Championships, earned three National Coach of the Year awards, and produced three National Players of the Year.
Most recently, Baziquetto-Allen led FSW to a 26-1 record and another national title.
“It was tough, not easy at all," Baziquetto-Allen said about leaving FSW.
Now, she heads across town to take over the FGCU program — going from the junior college level straight to Division I.
“Oh I’m pumped," FGCU Athletic Director Colin Hargis said. "She knows what she’s doing. She’s a proven winner. She’s a proven leader. She’s the right person to lead this program, continue the tradition, and build on the tradition of FGCU Volleyball.”
FGCU Volleyball is no stranger to winning. The Eagles have won the conference championship four straight times and five seasons overall. In 2024, FGCU went 27-5 and made it back to the NCAA Tournament.
“FGCU is just such a great school in a great place to recruit," Baziquetto-Allen said.
FGCU's longtime head coach, Matt Botsford, left the nest in December to become the new head coach at the University of Central Florida.
Baziquetto-Allen will have big shoes to fill, but she has proven to always be up to the challenge as one of the best college volleyball recruiters and coaches in the country.