National Champion Madison Lilley Returning to UK Volleyball as Assistant Coach

UK Athletics Photo

Maybe she’s not the perfect fit for Kentucky volleyball but it’s hard to imagine anyone better to have on coach Craig Skinner’s coaching staff than former 2020-21 American Volleyball Coaches’ Association National Player of the Year Madison Lilley.

She becomes the third full-time assistant on Skinner’s staff effective July 1.

Lilley helped Kentucky win the 2020 national championship in the split COVID season year. She was named ‘Southeastern Conference player of the year that season and the Cats won a SEC championship all four years she played (2017-2020/21) and she led the SEC in assists three times.

She left UK regarded as one of the top collegiate setters of all time after averaging 12.37 assists per set in 2020 when she was volleyball’s first-ever SEC Athlete of the Year winner. She also won the HONDA Award for the sport’s top athlete in 2020-21, while also winning AVCA Region Player of the Year and National Player of the Year.

“When I heard there would be a staff opening at Kentucky, it felt too good to be true,” Lilley said in a release from UK. “I had such an incredible experience as a collegiate athlete at the University of Kentucky and I am so excited to continue to build on that amazing culture.

“We will continue to be focused on guiding amazing people and volleyball players towards their goals.”

Lilley’s duties will include recruiting — where she should be great relating to high school players — as well as day-to-day operations, scouting and working with the setters.

She has been playing professionally in France where she won her league’s gold medal playing for Beziers Angels.

Skinner understands how special this hire could be for him and the Kentucky volleyball program.

 “We are pumped to have Madison join our staff,” Skinner said. “Her career as an All-American, national champion, and years playing professional volleyball will be a huge asset to our program and players.

“Talking to her during the process, she expressed how playing pro really helped her understand the value of coaching and the type of impact you can have on people in that role. Having another alumna back in the program also means a great deal to me and we are all excited to get to work this summer.”