The 2007 BIG EAST Coach of the Year and 2015 AVCA East Coach Region Coach of the Year has led the Wildcats to four conference quarterfinal and three semifinal appearances, one BIG EAST runner-up and an NCAA Tournament berth in addition to 11 winning seasons.
2023 marked a return to the BIG EAST Championship for Steinbach and the 'Cats, totaling a 17-14 overall record with eight league wins to secure the final spot in the conference tournament. First-year hitter Abby Harrell earned Villanova's third ever BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, the first in the Steinbach era. Harrell also picked up All-BIG EAST and freshman team honors during her debut campaign under Steinbach, and middle blocker Kiera Booth became the sixth Wildcat to earn an all-conference nod in back-to-back seasons.
In 2022, Steinbach picked up career win 250 in a five-set victory over Georgetown on Nov. 10, adding to his Villanova-best win total. Middle blockerKiera Boothearned an All-BIG EAST and All-ECAC First Team nod, leading the'Cats in blocks at 86 while hitting a career best .336. Rose Crist provided a team-high in kills at 292 (2.75 per set), while Riley Homer finished top threeon the team in kills, digs, and blocks.
During the 2021 season, Crist had a standout year and was named to the All-BIG EAST Freshman team after registering199 kills, including 20 in a match against Butler. Homer had an impressive season, leading the team in kills (354) and was second in blocks (66), whileBooth led the team in blocks (94) and was second in kills (255).
Due to the COVID-19 shortened season in 2020, the Wildcats competed in just 10 matches. Despite the short season, three Wildcats earned postseason honors. Averi Salvador was named BIG EAST Libero of the Year after leading the conference with 131 digs. Middle hitter Sophia Howling was named to the All-BIG EAST team for the second time in her collegiate career after hammering 77 kills and swatting away 28 blocks.Homer was named to the All-BIG EAST team and All-BIG EAST Freshman team after leading the team with 111 kills.
The Wildcats didn't miss a beat in the 2019 season with an impressive 22-9 (13-5 BIG EAST) record. During conference play, Villanova won seven-straight matches including a sweep against #9 Creighton. The Wildcats' impressive performance led to an appearance in the BIG EAST Semi-Finals. Three Wildcats were named to the all-BIG EAST team includingEmma Decker, Allie OlsonoskiandHowling. Kathleen Johnson was also named to the All-Freshman team.
Villanova had another winning season in 2018, finishing 17-14 (10-8 BIG EAST). One of the Wildcats' biggest wins was upsetting #21 Utah at home in a five-set thriller. During the 2018 season, Steinbach earned his 200th win as head coach of the Wildcats. Villanova's strong conference play earned them a bid once again to the BIG EAST Tournament.
Villanova sported an impressive 18-12 (11-8 BIG EAST) record for the 2017 season. At home, the Wildcats were dominant with an 11-2 record, knocking off #13 Creighton at The Jake. Villanova's impressive play allowed them to make a run to the BIG EAST semifinals. Allie Loitz was named to the BIG EAST First Team after leading the team in kills per set (3.35), service aces (30) and points per set (3.96). Middle blocker Amanda Pedersen-Henry garnered second-team all-conference honors and led the team in hitting percentage (.280), kills (280), blocks (65) and blocks per set (0.62).
In the 2016 season, the Wildcats went 18-13, 9-9 in BIG EAST play and finished 6thin the conference. Loitz was named to the 2016 All-BIG EAST FirstTeam after an outstanding season, leading the team in kills (347), kills/set (3.58), points (412.5), points/set (4.25), serve assists (36) and serve assists/set (.37).
Steinbach was named the 2015 AVCA East Coach Region Coach of the Year after coaching the Wildcats to a 25-9 record, earning the program’s second-ever NCAA Tournament bid. Villanova’s 25 wins in a season were the most in a season since the 1993 team won 26. The 2015 squad went 14-4 in the BIG EAST and finished in second place on the season, its highest finish since 1997. He currently ranks fourth among active BIG EAST head coaches in wins.
Following the 2015 season, three Wildcats landed student-athletes on the BIG EAST all-conference teams, withLoitz and 2016 graduate Emma Pettit earning first team, while Gabby Pethokoukis would be named to the second team. At the time of her graduation, Pettit ranked third all-time in assists (3,791) and sixth in assists/set (9.05). Loitz led the team in kills (419), kills/set (3.43), and service aces (48) last season while Pethokoukis is ranked in the top-10 all-time in block assists and total blocks, adding numerous single season records as well.
The start of Steinbach's tenure at Villanova was an extremely successful one, as he led his 2007 squad to a 17-12 record, a 9-5 mark in BIG EAST play and the No. 3 seed in the BIG EAST Championship. He was named the BIG EAST Coach of the Year for his efforts and the Wildcats had multiple players selected to the all-conference first team for the first time in 15 years.
While successful on the court, Steinbach’s teams have always performed well in the classroom, earning the AVCA Team Academic Award nearly every year since he has been a head coach. The Wildcats are currently on anine-year streak of earning the AVCA team All-Academic award, and have earned the award 13times total.
Steinbach has seen his Wildcats earn seven AVCA All-Region honors.Kim Maroon is the only three-time all-region honoree in program history and earned that distinction three straight years from 2009-11. She was joined on the All-Northeast Region team by teammate Maggie Mergen in 2010, while Cherkez previously earned the honor in 2007. The BIG EAST honors for Villanova since 2007 have included six All-BIG EAST first team selections, seven second team picks and more than 45 weekly award winners. Maroon and Mergen each were first team selections in consecutive seasons in 2010-11.
There has been no shortage of record-setting performances under Steinbach's watch. Maroon surpassed 2,000 career digs as a senior and her 2011 season total of 749 digs stand as the BIG EAST single-season record. Cherkez, meanwhile, set a single-season school record with 642 kills in 2007. In addition, Mergan and Morgan Petkovich each surpassed 1,000 career kills during the 2011 season. The volleyball student-athletes have also continued to be successful in the classroom during Steinbach's time as head coach. Villanova has received the Game Plan/AVCA Team Academic Award seven times, while the Wildcats have had a total of 51 selections to the BIG EAST All-Academic Team since 2007.
Most recently before coming to Villanova, Steinbach was the assistant coach at Wright State from 2005-07. His responsibilities there included serving as recruiting coordinator, overseeing the team's video breakdown of opponents and on-court coaching duties. Prior to his Wright State experience, Steinbach was an assistant at the University of Cincinnati from 2003-05. He also held assistant coaching positions at Penn State and San Diego Mesa Community College.
Steinbach played collegiate volleyball at both San Diego Mesa Community College and George Mason University. After earning his Associates Degree from San Diego Mesa Community College in 1999, he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Penn State University in 2002.
A native of State College, Pa., Steinbach has two sons, Bennett and Carson.
