Kristy Pierce

Kristy Pierce is the Head Women's Volleyball Coach/Compliance and Academic Eligibility at Rock Valley College.

Rock Valley Volleyball Coach Kristy Pierce began her coaching career at Rock Valley College in 2018 after completing a 34 year career at Lanark Eastland High School. Prior to that Pierce was a 4 sport athlete in High School and a 3 sport athlete at the University Of Dubuque.

Pierce ranks fourth in Illinois high school women's volleyball history with 939 career wins. Pierce amassed a career record of 939-206-10 coaching at Shannon High School from 1982-86 and at Lanark (Eastland) High School from 1986-2015. Her 81.7% winning percentage places her second all-time in the state for volleyball coaches who have earned 900 or more wins. Pierce was named IHSA Volleyball Coach of the Year while at Eastland High School in 2003-2004, Best of the Rock River Valley Coach of the Year in 2015, and was named Area Coach of the Year 18 times in her career.

Pierce's high school coaching career had a storybook ending as in her final game her Eastland team captured the Class 1A state title in 2015. That marked the third state championship for Pierce at Eastland, including back-to-back titles in 2008 and 2009.

Pierce was a Physical Education and Health teacher for 34 years, teaching all grade levels. Most recently she taught K-6 Physical Education.

She will take over an RVC team that last won a national championship in 2012, but in the last two seasons has compiled an overall record of 34-30.
In her first season at the helm of Rock Valley’s program Pierce guided her team to a N4C conference title, a Region 4 Championship and a trip to the National Tournament where they placed 6th. Four players were named All- Conference, 5 players all region and Mallory Hecox was named First team All- American.

In Pierce’s second season, 2019 the Golden Eagle Volleyball team finished runner up in Region 4 finishing their season just shy of a Region 4 championship and trip to Nationals. Pierce coached 2 all region players, Kara Cisewski and Faith Reynolds with Cisewski earning honorable mention All- American honors.

In 2021 after a year without competition due to COVID, Pierces team had a remarkable year. The Golden Eagle Volleyball team won the NJCAA DIII Region IV tournament and punched a bid to the national tournament where they were the #1 seed. The golden eagles ultimately fell short in the national championship. Pierce coached 3 All-American players: Addison Metts who was named NJCAA DIII National Player of the year and 1st team All-American , in addition to Samantha Ingram, and Madisen Perry who were named NJCAA DIII All-Americans. (1st team for Ingram and 2nd team for Perry) The awards came on the heels of a 34-8 season, and a NJCAA DIII National Runner-Up finish.

In 2022 the Golden Eagles competed in their first season at NJCAA DII level. The Golden Eagles had another successful season finishing their season with a record of 32-11. The Golden Eagles ultimately fell short in the Region Championship game. Pierce coached three All-Region athletes, Maisie Green, Madison Koelker (1ST Team All-region) and Alexandria Cserep (2nd Team All-Region).

In Pierces 6th season, in 2023 the Golden Eagle Volleyball team had yet another successful season. The Golden Eagles went on to win the NJCAA DII Region IV Tournament and had the opportunity to compete at the National tournament where they came up short in early competition. In 2023 pierce coached 3 All-region athletes, Aaliyah Butler (1st Team All-Region), Maisie Green (2nd Team All-Region), and Nevaeh Cruz (3rd Team All-Region).