The most decorated Ohio State player in program history is coming back.
Coach Kevin Burch announced recently that Nicolas Szerszen has been hired to be the Buckeyes assistant coach.
“Once a Buckeye, always a Buckeye,” Szerszen said in a statement. “I’m honored to return to Ohio State as a member of the coaching staff. After competing at the highest levels of professional volleyball in Poland for the past several years, I’m excited to bring that experience back to Columbus and help develop the next generation of Buckeyes. I’m looking forward to getting in the gym, building relationships and chasing championships.
Szerszen guided the Buckeyes to back-to-back NCAA championships in 2016 and 2017 and still holds the school record with 1,678 career kills and 238 career aces. The three-time All-American and 2016 National Player of the Year also is the only three-time winner of the MIVA Player of the Year.
Szerszen was the inaugural winner of the International Player of the Year that recognizes the top international player in college men’s volleyball. The award was renamed in 2020 to the Nicholas Szerszen in recognition of the outside attacker’s contribution to the sport.
“Nick exemplified what it means to be a complete student-athlete,” Burch said in a statement. “He was an outstanding teammate, leader and competitor who set the standard for work ethic, accountability and resilience both on and off the court. We are thrilled to welcome Nick back to our program and look forward to the positive impact he will have on our student-athletes as he mentors them with the same values and commitment to excellence that defined his career as a Buckeye.”
Ohio State finished last season in fifth place in the MIVA and lost in the conference tournament quarterfinals.
The Buckeyes since Szerszen graduated in 2018 have won two MIVA championships and reached in the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals in 2024.