The 2nd Amendment Patriots of Evansville will not meet in January or February. Group leader Jim Tomes tells us that scheduling conflicts forced the cancellation.
“We’re looking forward to getting everyone together in March,” Tomes said. That meeting, the first gathering since November, will be on March 29 at the VFW Post on Wabash Avenue.
Weinberg brings a wealth of experience to UE
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Evansville Director of Athletics Dr. Kenneth “Ziggy” Siegfried has announced the hiring of Zachary Weinberg as Head Volleyball Coach for the Purple Aces program.
“We are thrilled to welcome Zach, his wife Paige, and their children Ian and Eliana to the Purple Aces family. Coach Weinberg’s values perfectly align with those at UE,” Siegfried said. “He values developing well-rounded student-athletes, lifelong learning, and he understands the importance of the impact that UE has in our community and beyond. He also brings a wealth of experience and a proven ability to build successful teams at the Division I level.”
Weinberg joins the Aces program following a seven-year stint on the staff at Tennessee Tech where he served as the Associate Head Volleyball Coach since June 2021. He began his role with the TTU program in February of 2018 as an assistant coach. His staff inherited a team that went 2-14 in the Ohio Valley Conference in 2017 and turned it into a 14-4 squad that finished in second place in the OVC in 2022. In 2024, the Golden Eagles went 24-8, finishing with their highest win total since 1983.
Over a four-year span, Weinberg helped raise the RPI of the Golden Eagles from 313 in 2017 to 154 in 2021, an improvement of 159 positions. His responsibilities included the training of setters, middle blockers, and pin hitters while overseeing the entire offensive scheme. Off the floor, he managed the operating and travel budgets of the program while serving as the liaison to housing, marketing, and sports information. He also coordinated social media for the program.
“I am honored, humbled and excited to be named the head coach at the University of Evansville. I’d like to thank Dr. Ziggy Siegfried and the entirety of the Search Advisory Committee for their time and professionalism in running the search and for gifting me this opportunity to lead the Purple Aces program,” Weinberg exclaimed. “From the moment I stepped foot in Evansville, I could feel how this community rallies around the volleyball program and how ready they are to support these student-athletes. UE is a special place, and I can’t wait to get to know the student-athletes and aid them in reaching their academic and athletic goals while providing them with the best experience I can. Today is a dream come true, and my family and I can’t wait to embed ourselves into the Evansville community!”
“I would also like to thank everyone who aided me in getting to this huge step in my career, but especially those from my time in Cookeville with Tennessee Tech. Head Coach Jeannette Phillips, Athletic Director Mark Wilson, SWA Mandy Thatcher, and the rest of the TTU admin team provided me with so much autonomy and opportunity for growth that it shaped me into the coach I am today,” Weinberg added. “It has been a wonderful 7 years in Cookeville, and I’m deeply appreciative of all the love and support they have poured into me. I also want to thank my biggest supporter-my wife, Paige- for her constant love and support and for allowing me to follow my dreams. None of who I am as a coach and person is possible without her endless support.”
Aside from his work with the indoor program, Weinberg was named the first-ever Head Beach Volleyball Coach in TTU history. In the inaugural season for the program in 2023, Weinberg directed his squad to a 4th-place finish in the OVC along with two wins in the conference tournament. He oversaw the management of the entire program while managing an assistant coach and student manager.
Weinberg is also an active member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) and has served in multiple roles within the organization. He has served on the Board of Directors for the last two years as the Assistant Coaches representative while simultaneously serving on the AVCA’s High School All-American Selection Committee. As the board representative, Weinberg chairs the organization’s Assistant Coaches Committee and in 2021 was recognized as an AVCA 30 Under 30 award winner, which recognizes 30 of the top up-and-coming coaches in the country under the age of 30.
Prior to his time at Tennessee Tech, Weinberg served as an Assistant Volleyball Coach at UNLV. Posting a 24-8 record, UNLV finished 33rdin the RPI on its way to the school’s first-ever at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament where his team upset #22 Utah in the opening round. His work with UNLV included the recruiting of student-athletes on a nationwide scale while coordinating and conducting on-campus recruiting
In two seasons as an assistant coach at Northwestern State, Weinberg helped NSU capture its first and only Southland Conference Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament berth in 2014. He worked within all facets of in-gym training at NSU while working extensively in video and Cauldron – a complex statistical document that stores statistics for each member of the team and compares their production to the top players in the conference.
His work in college volleyball began at Ohio University where he was a Student Assistant Coach from December of 2008 through March of 2012. As a sophomore, he was promoted from student manager to Student Assistant Coach. In his time with the Bobcats, the program won three Mid-American Conference regular season championships, three MAC Tournament Championships and a berth in the NCAA Tournament in each season.
Between 2015 and 2022, Weinberg was the Head Volleyball Coach for Maccabi USA Volleyball. He led the Indoor Women’s Youth team and Open Women beach team to gold medals at the 2015 Pan-American Maccabi Games in Santiago, Chile. In 2022, he directed the Maccabi USA Women’s Open Team to a 4th-place finish in the 2022 Maccabiah in Jerusalem, Israel.
Weinberg’s first head coaching position was at Camden Catholic High School (N.J.) where he led the program in 2013, just its second season in existence. Following a 1-21 season prior to his arrival, Weinberg won nine games in 2013 while finishing second in its division.
Student-athletes have benefited greatly from Weinberg’s tutelage. He recruited and mentored 2024 OVC Player of the Year Madolyn Isringhausen while guiding her to four All-OVC selections including three on the first team. Isringhausen was named the AVCA National Player of the Week on Nov. 12, 2024, as well as being named Tennessee Tech’s first-ever AVCA All-American at the conclusion of the 2024 season. He led Jordan Karlen to a pair of All-OVC First Team selections along with OVC Freshman and Setter of the Year honors. Weinberg has led multiple other student-athletes to conference and regional accolades.
Weinberg is married to his wife, Paige. They have two children-Ian (4) and Eliana (1).
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
Mark Wilson-Tennessee Tech Athletic Director
“Zach is a rising star in the volleyball world and has been a huge part of our success on the court along with leading Tennessee Tech’s entry into beach volleyball! Evansville is getting a superb coach but an even better person and family!”
Jeannette Phillips-Tennessee Tech Head Volleyball Coach
“Zach has always prioritized relationships with those he works with and our loss is Evansville’s gain. He has been passionate about continuing his coaching career as a Head Coach; it was always just a matter of him finding the perfect fit, and I am so happy that he found that in Evansville. The Tennessee Tech staff and players all support this move for Zach and we wish him well in the next step in his coaching journey.”
Jaime Gordon-CEO of the American Volleyball Coaches Association
“Evansville made a great choice to bring in Zach as their head volleyball coach. He is a professional who is committed to building a sustainable program of success on a foundation of high character that will make the community proud.”
Jaclynn Wilson-UT Martin Head Volleyball Coach
“Evansville made a great choice in selecting Zach Weinberg as its new head volleyball coach. I’ve coached against him for years, and he has continually demonstrated the qualities that make him a leader, on and off the court. Not only is he passionate about volleyball, but his commitment to his student athletes is unmatched. Evansville has landed a terrific coach and an even better person.”
Maddie Isringhausen-TTU Student Athlete 2020-2024
“Having Zach as a coach for the last five years has been nothing short of amazing. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the countless hours he spent teaching me everything there is to know as an outside hitter. He worked day in and day out to make us better players, but above all better people. He truly treats his players as if they are a part of his family and that is just one of the many reasons he will thrive in this new role. I am incredibly proud to say I was coached by Zach and I can’t wait to see what he accomplishes in the years to come. Evansville is incredibly lucky to have him as their new head coach!”
Ali Verzani- TTU Student Athlete 2018-2021
“I am so grateful for the years I spent playing for Coach Zach. He made me a better student, volleyball player, and human being. Coach Zach believes in his athletes and gives them the tools they need to reach their full athletic potential. He is a true student of the game and a phenomenal leader. I am so excited to see what he can accomplish with the Aces!”
FOOTNOTE: EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.
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INDIANAPOLIS – Gov. Eric Holcomb is directing flags to be flown at half-staff across Indiana in honor and tribute to the memory of President James Earl Carter, Jr.
Flags should be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on from now until sunset Tuesday, January 28, 2025. Gov. Holcomb is also requesting businesses and residents to lower their flags to half-staff.
The Purple Aces opened Missouri Valley Conference play on Sunday afternoon with the first day of the game among all 12 teams. UE fell to the reigning MVC Champions Drake in a 76-54 final at the Ford Center in Evansville’s second straight game at the downtown arena. The Aces had their best game forcing turnovers against a Division I opponent on Sunday. UE had 12 steals in 40 minutes during the Valley opener while forcing a total of 20 turnovers from Drake for the Bulldogs second-highest turnover game of the season.
Evansville will have its first road game and series in Valley play at the end of the week. The Aces begin the time away from the River City with a stop in Peoria on Thursday night for a 6 p.m. game with Bradley. UE then heads to Normal for a Saturday afternoon match up with Illinois State at 4 p.m. where they’ll play against former Evansville forward Nevaeh Thomas.
The Bradley Braves enter Thursday’s game after a close loss to Belmont on Sunday afternoon. The Braves made a 17-point comeback in the final 14 minutes but it wouldn’t be quite enough to overcome the Bruins in the 69-61 loss. Bradley is led by senior guard Soleil Barnes who transferred to the Braves after spending three years with the Toledo Rockets. Barnes is the only player on Bradley’s roster averaging double figures with 15.1 points a game.
The Illinois State Redbirds enter the weekend with a 6-6 overall record after dropping their first conference game to Murray State. Despite leading at the end of the first half and most of the third quarter Illinois State couldn’t hang on against the red hot Murray State Racers in the 91-80 defeat. The Redbirds will take on Indiana State before playing the Aces on Saturday afternoon. Illinois State has a quartet of double digit scorers in sophomore guard Shannon Dowell (15.5), graduate guard Elyce Knudsen (13.9), sophomore forward Nevaeh Thomas (13.0), and redshirt junior forward Addison Martin (10.4).
Senior guard Júlia Palomo continued to set career numbers in UE’s return to the court. After having a career-high game behind the arc to close out non-conference play, Palomo set a defensive high to open Valley action. Palomo led Evansville under the glass with seven rebounds against Drake, the MVC leaders on the defensive side of the ball.
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – On New Year’s Day, the University of Evansville men’s basketball team travels to Carbondale, Ill. to take on Southern Illinois in a 1 p.m. game at the Banterra Center. ESPN+ and the Purple Aces Radio Network will have the broadcast.
Last Time Out
– Evansville put together its top defensive performance of the year, holding Missouri State to just 40 points on 25.9% shooting in a 17-point win on Dec. 29
– Four Purple Aces reached double figures with Cam Haffner finishing with 13
– Josh Hughes added 11 points, 9 boards, and 4 steals in the winning effort while Tayshawn Comer and Tanner Cuff added 11 and 10 points, respectively
Back to Form
– In three games leading to the Dec. 29 win over Missouri State, Cam Haffner averaged just 4.3 points per game
– That all changed versus the Bears as he scored a game-high 13 points to improve his season average to 12.8 PPG, which is 2nd on the team and 16th in the MVC
– In four games between Nov. 22 and Dec. 7, Haffner averaged 19 points and 7 rebounds
Clutch Performance
– In the Dec. 29 win over Missouri State, Josh Hughes reached double figures for the first time since Nov. 24 totaling 11 points while tying his career mark with 9 boards and picking up his top tally of 4 steals
– Entering the game, Hughes was mired in a 1-for-19 slump from 3-point range but rebounded to go 3-for-7 from outside
– Averaging 1.08 blocks per game, Hughes is 7th in the league
Top Rebounder
– With eight rebounds in the win over Missouri State, Tanner Cuff improved his season average to 6.5 per game, which paces the team and is 8th in the MVC
– Cuff added 10 points in the win to improve his season mark to 8.7 PPG
– He had the top game of his career against Chattanooga, scoring 18 while adding 5 boards, 4 assists, 2 blocks and a steal
– His scoring mark bested his previous high of 16, which came last season vs. UIC
Scoutig the Opponent
– Southern Illinois begins the New Year with a 5-8 overall mark while dropping their first two MVC games
– On Sunday, the Salukis fell at UNI by a score of 78-67 and in their last home game, SIU fell to High Point, 94-81
– Ali Dibba leads the Salukis with his average of 15.4 points per game while shooting 50.7% from the field
– Kennard Davis Jr. holds an average of 13.8 PPG while Jarrett Hensley has averaged 11.1 PPG and a team-best 6.4 rebounds
– Playing five games in November, Elijah Elliott averaged 14.0 points but has not seen the floor since 11/22
