How Ball State men's volleyball coach led historic run to Final Four after abrupt coaching change

Iandolo was a standout in his own playing career, earning two all-MIVA first-team nods during his time as a setter for Lewis University. After a short professional career that took him to Florida and Sweden, Iandolo got his coaching start as an assistant at Grand Canyon University. He took his first head coaching job at the University of Charleston in West Virginia and spent three seasons there before joining Cruz's Ball State staff ahead of the 2022 season.

With his own history as a player and having already been in Muncie for four seasons, building and maintaining strong relationships with the roster was hardly a challenge for Iandolo. Within his first few days as coach, he had already called every returning player to discuss their individual and team goals for the upcoming season.

"I think the main thing for me is that he cares a lot about us," senior setter Lucas Machado said. "He acts more like a father for us than as a coach, trying to know us better outside of the court, stuff that we like to do, our hobbies and all of that. I think this relationship that he wants to have with us, being our friend instead of just being our coach, I think that helps a lot with everything and our success this season."

Ball State head coach Mike Iandolo stands on the sideline against Pepperdine during an NCAA Tournament match Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Riverview Health Arena at Innovation Mile.

Iandolo has struck the perfect balance between friendship and mentorship. Practices are lighthearted and fun for the most part, but when it's time to lock in, he has no trouble getting everybody in line and ready to go. Sophomore opposite Ryan Louis came up with a humorous comparison for Iandolo's coaching style that he has shared with his teammates throughout the season.

"I've talked to some of the guys about this — the way I see it, he's kind of like a babysitter," Louis said. "You always see in movies or something, a babysitter who has older kids, he's just him kind of messing with them but also keeping them calm. That's what he does with us. We have fun with Mike, we can joke around, can be normal around him, but when he needs us to be focused, he'll get on us, tell us, 'Hey, lock in, figure it out, and let's get to work.' He's very good at keeping emotions in control."

That sort of camaraderie and connectedness is something Ball State lacked last season. The Cardinals had high expectations for the 2025 campaign but underachieved, finishing the year with a four-match skid and a first-round exit from the MIVA Tournament. Injuries certainly played a role in last year's disappointment, but the team was missing the sense of togetherness that has propelled them to a historic season this year.

With Iandolo's coaching style placing such an emphasis on relationships, he made it a priority for his players to build stronger relationships with each other during the offseason.

"We had to get better in some off-court stuff," Iandolo said. "Our guys had to be better off the court in choices they made but also in spending time together. We had a lot of seniors last year and fifth-year guys on top of that, and it's hard as a fifth-year guy when you're 22, 23 and you've got teammates that are 18 years old. You're just in different phases of life at that point. I think they've done a good job this year making sure they're spending time together off the court. They always hang out, they're super close, and I think they're genuine when they say that they're close and they're all friends.

"They're playing for each other, and if you ask our seniors, it's the most fun they've had with a team because they are so close."

Shondell on Cards: 'Dad would be thrilled'

Iandolo will lead Ball State into a Final Four match against UC Irvine at 6:30 p.m. ET Saturday in UCLA's Pauley Pavilion. Should the Cardinals win that match, they will advance to the national championship against either Hawaii or Long Beach State at 7 p.m. Monday.

Two more wins would give Ball State its first team national championship in school history and cement Iandolo as perhaps the quickest legend in school history.

The pressure is on, but the Cardinals have their minds in the right place.

"We talk about being good teammates and talk about having gratitude every day, things that just keep their mind on what is really important," Iandolo said. "The volleyball is important. Being good is important. But so is being a good teammate and being a good dude and enjoying ourselves in what we're doing."

Contact Cade Hampton via email at cbhampton@usatodayco.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @CadeHamp10.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Ball State volleyball coach Mike Iandolo led team to NCAA men's Final Four