Nicky Cannon

Nicky Cannon is the Head Volleyball Coach at the University of California, Riverside

Nicky Cannon was named Head Women’s Volleyball Coach on April 18, 2022 and enters her second season in 2023.

Cannon, who spent the previous three seasons as an assistant coach with Cal State Fullerton, becomes the program's fourth head coach since its inception in 1970 (originally at the Division II level before UCR Athletics transitioned to the Division I level just over 20 years ago).

Cannon turned over a new leaf with the program's energy and culture in her first season in 2023, bringing in experienced setter Taylor Hifo. Under Cannon's tutelage, Hifo recorded the Big West's first triple double since 2018 and her 500th career assist. Hifo also earned All-Big West Honorable Mention while Bella Scarlett picked up multiple All-Tournament awards and her 500th career kill.

Cannon's Highlanders pulled out a dramatic 3-2 victory of UC San Diego in her debut at the SRC Arena on September 29, 2022.

In three seasons with Cal State Fullerton, Cannon's presence made an impact. In her first year, the squad had a huge turnaround season, finishing the year with a 12-15 overall record. The 12 total wins were the most for the program since 2012 while the four conference victories were the most since 2013. The team doubled their win total from the previous year and Cannon (as lead in defensive development and systems) guided the team to a Top 25 national ranking with 17.44 digs per set. Cannon was also a part of staff to (then) Head Coach Ashley Preston’s Big West Conference Co-Head Coach of The Year after the 2019 season.

Cannon helped guide Cal State Fullerton’s Julia Crawford to a phenomenal 2019 rookie campaign, as she was awarded a spot on the All-Big West First Team and Freshman Team. Her 368 kills and 398.5 total points were the most by a Titan since the 2014 season en route to becoming just the ninth Fullerton player to earn a First Team selection and the first since Kayla Neto in 2012. Cannon also worked with Savahna Costello, a 2019 Big West Honorable Mention honoree. The 5'5" libero absolutely dominated the conference leaderboards averaging 5.31 digs per set; a number that ranked 13th in the entire NCAA. Her 531 total digs on the year is the sixth most in Titan single-season history as she posted double-digit digs in nearly every match that season. Costello ranks sixth all-time in the program in total digs for her career with 1,197.

Cannon joined Cal State Fullerton after spending three years as the Assistant Coach in both indoor and beach volleyball at Cypress Community College. In her three years as the Assistant Coach, she helped Nancy Welliver to one indoor and two beach conference championships as well as two state tournament appearances.

Prior to Cypress, Cannon was the Athletics Director and Head Volleyball Coach at Christ Academy High School in Wichita Falls, Texas from 2013-2015. While in Texas, Cannon also co-founded Zone-In Volleyball Academy (ZIVA), where she was the head coach for the 14’s and 18’s National Team and Club Director from 2012-2019.

Cannon was also awarded the American Volleyball Coaches Association 2020 Diversity Award and was a keynote speaker at the 2020 and 2021 AVCA Volleyball Convention.

Cannon graduated from Colgate University where she was a Patriot League All-Conference Pitcher. She has also completed her Master’s Degree in Physical Education at Azuza Pacific and resides in La Palma with her husband Jerronand two daughters Rishae and Syriah.