Tolis Koskinaris: Head Coach, Men's & Women's Volleyball
A cornerstone of College of DuPage volleyball,
Tolis Koskinaris has built a life around the sport, culminating in the rare achievement of leading both the women's and men's programs to national titles. Since taking the helm of the women's team in 2015, he has re-established the Chaparrals as a dominant force in NJCAA Division III volleyball.
A Legacy of National Success!
Coach Koskinaris has guided the Chaparral women's team to three consecutive top-five national finishes, cementing the program's elite status.
- 2022 NJCAA National Champions: The Chaparrals captured their first national title since 1999 with a dominant 32-3 season. The team was led by National Player of the Year Chloey Myers and All-Americans Alyssa Fountain and Olivia Witek. For his leadership, Koskinaris was named the NJCAA and AVCA National Coach of the Year.
- 2023 National Tournament (5th Place): The team earned a hard-fought at-large bid and finished with a 25-17 record, led by All-American libero Cyd Martinez.
- 2024 National Tournament (3rd Place): With a 24-15 record, the Chaps secured another Region 4 title, celebrating All-American honors for middle hitter Josephine Becker and libero Francesca Brandonisio.
Building a Men's Volleyball Powerhouse
In a remarkable feat of program-building, Koskinaris was tasked with launching the COD men's volleyball program in 2023. In just its third season, the team reached the pinnacle of success.
- 2025 NJCAA Invitational Champions: The Chaparrals dominated the national tournament, finishing with an incredible 24-2 record and going undefeated against all junior college competition.
- Rapid Ascent: The program showed immediate promise, finishing fourth nationally in its inaugural 2023 season and third in 2024 before claiming the crown in 2025.
Dedication to the Sport
Koskinaris' dedication to volleyball extends far beyond the COD campus. He is the owner and operator of the
Cyclones Volleyball Club in Aurora and has served as the head coach for the West Aurora High School boys' program since 2009. He has also been a camp instructor for
USA Volleyball.
His journey with the Chaparrals came full circle, as he began his coaching career as an assistant for COD’s 1998 and 1999 national championship squads while still a student. He went on to play volleyball at the University of Illinois, graduating in 2002.
A multiple-time N4C Coach of the Year (2017, 2022, 2023), Koskinaris and his wife, Kristy Marie, reside in Plainfield with their daughter, Mikaela Jade.
