Eric Visgitis promoted to Thiel Head Women's Volleyball Coach Twin brother Luke Visgitis named Associate Head Coach 6/23/2025 1:10:00 PM GREENVILLE, Pa. (pacathletics.org) – Thiel College Director of Athletics Isaac Collins has announced the promotion of Eric Visgitis to Head Women's Volleyball Coach, with his twin brother, Luke Visgitis, joining the staff as Associate Head Coach. The Visgitis brothers bring a wealth of professional international playing experience to the program, along with prior coaching experience in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC). They aim to build on last season's campaign, which ended in a first-round exit in the PAC Championship Tournament. "We are thrilled to welcome Eric Visgitis as our new Head Women's Volleyball Coach and Luke Visgitis as Associate Head Coach," said Collins. "Their bond as twin brothers creates a unique and powerful coaching dynamic that will elevate the student-athlete experience and the overall direction of our program." Eric Visgitis served as an assistant coach under Dylan Lasher for Thiel's men's and women's volleyball programs during the 2024 season, contributing significantly to both teams' successes. The women's team earned 17 wins—a 14-victory improvement over 2023—ranking as the second-largest year-to-year gain among all 419 NCAA Division III women's volleyball programs. Meanwhile, the men's team had a historic season, capturing a PAC Championship and making the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance. "It's an honor to be selected as the next Head Coach of the Women's Volleyball program at Thiel," said Eric Visgitis. "Coaching alongside my twin brother is incredibly special. From high school and college to our professional playing careers, we've always shared the court. Now, we're excited to bring that chemistry to the sidelines and share the techniques and systems we developed during our time in Division I and international volleyball." Eric Visgitis played three professional seasons with VC Bitterfeld-Wolfen in Germany. Collegiately, he was a standout at the University of Mount Olive, earning All-Conference honors three times. He holds the program record for career hitting percentage (.436), the single-season record for solo blocks (26) and ranks third all-time in career blocks (281). "Eric brings a championship mindset, proven leadership skills and a deep commitment to holistic student-athlete development," Collins added. "His ability to connect with today's athletes while setting a standard of excellence makes him the ideal person to lead the next chapter of our women's volleyball program." Luke Visgitis joins Thiel after serving as a graduate assistant coach at PAC rival Westminster College in 2024, where he helped guide the Titans to 20 wins, a three-win improvement from 2023, and a semifinal appearance in the PAC Championship Tournament. "Luke is a rising star in coaching," said Collins. "He has international recruiting experience, a creative approach to player development and a passion for building strong, inclusive team cultures. His energy and vision align perfectly with our mission at Thiel." Like his brother, Luke Visgitis also played three professional seasons—one with Viana VC in Portugal and two with VC Bitterfeld-Wolfen in Germany. At Mount Olive, he was a four-time All-Conference selection, finishing second in career hitting percentage (.399) and career blocks (304) in program history. "I'm excited to begin this new chapter at Thiel alongside Eric," said Luke Visgitis. "My mission is to develop not only high-performing athletes, but also individuals who are prepared for life after volleyball. We're committed to building on this program's tradition of excellence and fostering a positive, growth-centered environment." Both Eric and Luke graduated from Mount Olive, as the former earned a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management and Communication and the latter received a Bachelor of Science in History. The Visgitis twins starred at North Allegheny High School, a perennial WPIAL and PIAA powerhouse, and won a WPIAL championship in 2017. "Expectations are high for the upcoming season," said Eric Visgitis. "We have a talented group that's already eager to get in the gym and put in the work. Luke and I are ready to give everything we have to this program and these athletes." The Tomcats will open the 2025 campaign in the Margie Knight Classic hosted by Salisbury University in late August. The full 2025 schedule will be release in the weeks ahead. Contributed by Thiel Sports Information