DePaul University Athletics
Volleyball Adds Paquiz as Assistant Coach
4/2/2015 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
CHICAGO -- Head coach Nadia Edwards has added Nicasio Paquiz as an assistant coach for her program effective immediately. Paquiz returns to DePaul where he was a volunteer assistant in the 2008-09 season.
Paquiz brings to Lincoln Park over 20 years of coaching experience at the NCAA Division I, elite club and high school levels. Most recently, Paquiz served as an assistant at Eastern Michigan University.
"I am excited for Nicasio to join our staff," said Edwards. "Nic is a Chicagoland native and has a strong rapport within the local volleyball community and club scene. He also brings a wealth of knowledge of the game and has a solid background in technical training. His expertise is in training the DS/Libero position. I am looking forward to having Nic work with our ball control players and be able to strengthen our first contact and sharpen up our defense."
During his stint at Eastern Michigan, the Eagles boasted the Mid-Atlantic Conference's top defense, leading the league in digs (2,058) and ranked in the top-25 nationally with 17.01 digs per set.
Paquiz arrived in Ypsilanti, Michigan after spending a year at Michigan Technical Institute.
Prior to his time at Michigan Tech, the Chicago, Ill. native spent the 2011 season as an assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay after beginning his Division I experience as a volunteer assistant coach at DePaul in 2008-09.
Outside of his collegiate coaching experience, Paquiz spent nearly five years as the head coach of the First Alliance Volleyball Club in Western Springs, Ill. He coached both 17-and 18-year old classes, leading both squads to multiple top-placing finishes in national tournaments.
As the master coach of the First Alliance 18 Silver squad, Paquiz led his team to a first place finish in the Great Lakes Power League in 2012. His 2009 squad posted a bronze medal at the AAU Junior Nationals and a ninth place finish at the Junior Volleyball Directors Association Championships.
In 2011, his 17 Silver squad was ranked as high as eighth in the PrepVolleyball.com national poll, while earning a gold medal at the Junior Volleyball Association's World Challenge. His 17 Silver team earned a top-15 finish in the Great Lakes Power League's under-18 division.
Before taking the reins at First Alliance, Paquiz spent over eight years of coaching in Southern California an area known for its volleyball. Paquiz served as head coach of the boy's and girl's teams at the Brentwood School in Los Angeles, Calif. and the head coach of the Santa Monica Beach Volleyball Club.
A 1998 graduate of the University of Illinois-Chicago, Paquiz spent three years (1995-97) playing club volleyball as a defensive specialist for UIC. He is also an avid beach player.
