Rockhurst University is officially entering the world of men’s volleyball, with the 2024-25 school year marking the program’s inaugural season. The team, under the leadership of head coach Corey Marks, is preparing for its debut competition in the spring, setting the stage for a new chapter in the university’s athletics program.
The men’s volleyball team will play independently in the spring 2025 season, with matches scheduled against several NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II and NAIA programs. In 2026, the team will officially join the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) for its first season sponsoring men’s volleyball.
The new head coach, Corey Marks, was announced as part of the program in July 2023. Bringing a breadth of experience, Marks comes to Rockhurst from Eastern Nazarene College (ENC) in Quincy, Massachusetts where he served as the men’s head volleyball coach and assistant athletic director in 2022-23.
Marks was previously an assistant coach at Florida International University and Johnson & Wales University from 2017-21, as well as being the USA Volleyball Youth National head coach. The American Volleyball Coaches Association recognized him with the Thirty Under 30 Beach Award in April 2021, an honor that commends up-and-coming talent in coaching.
With 19 men on the roster, the Rockhurst’s team is notably young, with only one upperclassman. Motivated by a youthful energy, the team will need to mature quickly to compete at a high level.
One of the prominent players for Rockhurst is sophomore transfer Nathan Jacques, one of the oldest men on the team. Jacques played under Marks as a setter his freshman year at ENC, where he earned NECC Conference Rookie of the Year honors and NECC All-Conference accolades, and quickly followed his coach to Rockhurst when the chance presented itself.
“When Coach Marks got the job, he asked me to come with him,” Jacques said. “I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.”
Despite being in the early stages of a program, Jacques is optimistic about the potential of the team.
“It’s a give-or-take situation for us,” he said. “If we align our goals and push each other, we can upset some strong teams and surprise people.”
He stressed that when the team plays together as a unit, they have the capability to be a serious contender in their matches.
“When our team is flowing and playing as one, we look very good. It all comes down to whether we can continue to perform night in and night out,” said Jacques.
Freshman libero Beau Cecil, a standout recruit from Overland Park, Kansas, also has confidence in the team’s development. He emphasized that while the team is still building its culture, they have the mindset and skills necessary to succeed.
“Unique, confident, and determined,” Cecil said when asked to describe the group in three words.
The excitement will kick off soon with the team’s first scrimmage at home against Missouri Valley College on Oct. 4 at 6 p.m. in the Mason Halpin Fieldhouse. Following this, the team will participate in a tournament at Park University on Oct. 27, before wrapping up their fall season scrimmages with an away match against Lindenwood University on Nov. 3.
With a strong foundation led by Marks and a team full of eager and talented young players, the Hawks aim to make a statement in their first season, paving the way for a successful program. For now, the focus is on teamwork, growth and surprising their competition—one set at a time.
