
Kyle Luongo, second from left, celebrates with coach Craig Skinner and other staff members after UK beat South Carolina to open SEC play. (Vicky Graff Photo)
New UK volleyball associate coach Kyle Luongo was the associate coach at Texas Christian from 2020-2025 before joining Craig Skinner’s staff. Skinner has won a national title at Kentucky and his teams have won or shared the last eight Southeastern Conference titles. He’s also continued to turn out All-Americans annually.
“Craig just has a presence about him and the ability to teach and train and coach. When he speaks he pulls you in in a very good way. The athletes are hungry for more from him,” Luongo said. “I think just the desire to play, and to play well … not that it’s all about him, but I think just because of what he has done and how he treats the athletes, he’s earned a lot of respect from them. They are very eager to do what he shares and what he tells them.”
Luongo said it is also very clear that Skinner knows how to make sure his players understand it is about more than just volleyball with him.
“I know that’s cliche and kind of coach talk, but Craig really does that well,” the UK assistant coach said. “When we’re in the gym, we are deeply invested in getting better at volleyball. But there is a great balance of a lot of care and effort into who they are. I think when the players feel that and they know I should care about you so I’m going to try to do things that show you that.
“When they can tell it’s real, I think that just that just drives the performance even more and the desire to kind of do what it takes to win. I think Craig just does a really good job of balancing that we’re going to work, but it’s also like we’re in this together and always will be.”
Kentucky is 10-2 overall with three top 10 wins and 3-0 in SEC play going into Wednesday night’s match at Texas A&M.