SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame volleyball program has added Ian Choi to the coaching staff as an Assistant Coach, head coach Salima Rockwell announced. Choi comes to South Bend following nine total years on staff at Fordham, with the last eight being as the head coach.
“We are so excited to have Ian join our staff!” Rockwell said. “He has extensive coaching experience and embodies what it means to represent Notre Dame. Ian is someone that operates with integrity, coaches with passion and has the drive and desire to help student-athletes reach their full potential!”
In his eight years at the helm for Fordham, Choi guided the Rams to three Atlantic 10 tournament appearances and the first A10 Conference Finals Appearance in program history to go along with the best conference and overall record in two decades. He led numerous players to all-conference honors in his tenure and was impactful in his development of Whitley Moody, who became the only player in program history to achieve both 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in her career while also being the first AVCA All-Region honoree in program history. During his time, Fordham was a seven-time AVCA All-Academic Team Award.
“I’d like to thank Salima, the volleyball staff and the administration for this opportunity to join an already amazing program,” Choi said. “I’ve known Salima since she was at Texas and her acumen, presence and sincerity is unmatched in this landscape. I’m happy to be in South Bend and am excited to contribute to the upward trajectory of this team.”
Prior to his arrival at Fordham in 2017, Choi spent two seasons as the Assistant coach and Recruiting Coordinator at San Jose State where he trained the middle blockers, setters and liberos. During his two years, the Spartans saw the second-highest RPI increase among all Division I teams.
Earlier in his coaching career, Choi served as an Assistant Coach at Kansas, working primarily with the liberos and defensive specialists. In 2014, he helped lead the Jayhawks to an NCAA tournament appearance and a 22-9 record on the season.
Choi began his coaching experience at Texas in 2013, where he helped the Longhorns win a Big 12 Championship and an appearance in the National Semifinals as a student assistant coach. While at Texas, Choi served on the same staff with Rockwell.
In addition to coaching at the collegiate level, Choi also has success coaching with USAV Junior Volleyball. Spending most of his time with the top club in Central Texas, Austin Junior Volleyball, Choi garnered National Qualifying bids across all age groups during his six year tenure there and earned Coach of the Year in 2013. While coaching with USAV, Choi also head coached The University of Texas Women’s Club Volleyball team leading them to a National Championship in 2011.
A former setter for the Longhorns, Choi has a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas and a Master’s Degree in Kinesiology from San Jose State University.