Northern Kentucky University announced the hiring of Jim Palilonis as the first men's volleyball head coach in program history in June 2024.
Palilonis led the Norse to a Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) tournament appearance in his first full season at the helm of the program. In 2026, the Norse finished 5-19 with a 2-14 record in MIVA play. Palilonis earned his first win as a head coach and NKU's first-ever win on January 23, 2026, when the Norse topped Thomas More in three sets at Regents Hall. The Norse would go on to defeat UMES, Central State, and Queens (twice) to earn five wins on the season. NKU fell in the MIVA Tournament to top-seeded Ball State in three sets.
Palilonis joined NKU after spending the past three years as an assistant coach at Purdue Fort Wayne, competing in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association. Prior to his time with the Mastodons, Palilonis also served as an assistant coach at Ball State for 16 seasons, who were also members of the MIVA.
At Purdue Fort Wayne, Palilonis helped lead defensive strategy while at Ball State, he primarily worked with setters and helped lead the offensive strategy. At both universities, he served as the head recruiting coordinator for the program.
Palilonis also played a key role in PFW's three winning seasons while he was on the sidelines. The Mastodons went 47-38 overall (.553) and advanced to the MIVA Tournament all three years during his time with the program. While at Ball State, he helped the Cardinals to 15 winning seasons, which included five 20-win campaigns.
Palilonis's teams and student-athletes consistently achieved national rankings and academic honors. One of his biggest accomplishments came at Ball State with his role in the 2002 season where the Cardinals finished with a record of 23-8 overall and reached the NCAA Final Four for the 15th time in program history. That success carried over to his time at Purdue Fort Wayne as the Mastodons ended the 2024 season nationally ranked while posting the highest team grade point average in PFW men's volleyball history.
In addition to his time at Purdue Fort Wayne and with the Ball State men's program, Palilonis served as an assistant coach for the Ball State women's volleyball team for two seasons. He helped the Cardinals claim the 2010 Mid-American Conference regular season title and an at-large bid into the 2011 NCAA Women's Volleyball National Tournament.
Palilonis is a 1996 graduate of Ball State University with a degree in secondary education. Prior to joining the collegiate coaching ranks, he ran an alternative school in Winchester, Indiana and taught social studies in Chicago Public Schools.
His wife Jennifer is a George & Frances Ball Distinguished Professor and director of the Ball State Center for Emerging Media Design and Development. The two have twin sons, Gage and Quinn, who are acting majors at Ball State.
