DePaul University Athletics
Marie Zidek Signs Extension Through 2030
7/2/2026 10:30:00 AM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Extension follows international coaching success and a program-record run of postseason appearances
CHICAGO – DePaul volleyball head coach Marie Zidek will remain at the helm of the Blue Demons through the 2030 season after signing a new contract extension, Senior Vice President and Director of Athletics DeWayne Peevy announced Thursday. Zidek enters her ninth season leading the program this fall, having built DePaul volleyball into one of the BIG EAST's most consistent competitors while also representing the United States on the international stage.
Since taking over in December 2017, Zidek has overseen one of the most successful stretches in program history, leading the Blue Demons to five winning seasons in the last six years and guiding DePaul to its first three BIG EAST Tournament appearances in program history (2021, 2023 and 2024), with semifinal appearances in each tournament. Freshman Kendall Timme capped the 2025 campaign by earning BIG EAST Co-Freshman of the Year, becoming the first player in program history to claim the award. Zidek now ranks third in program history with 105 career wins.
In 2024, DePaul recorded its first sweep in BIG EAST Tournament history with a quarterfinal victory over St. John's before advancing to the conference semifinals. Behind a program-best four All-BIG EAST honorees, Rachel Krasowski became the program's first BIG EAST Libero of the Year. The Blue Demons eclipsed 20 wins in a season for the first time since 2001, hosted their first postseason volleyball match at McGrath-Phillips Arena as part of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) and advanced to the NIVC Great 8, the furthest postseason run in program history.
In 2023, DePaul earned the program's first BIG EAST Tournament victory with a quarterfinal win over Xavier before advancing to the conference semifinals. The Blue Demons also secured their first postseason tournament victory, defeating SIU in the NIVC.
Zidek's profile has grown well beyond Lincoln Park. In November 2025, she was re-elected to a second term as the Division I Women's Volleyball Representative on the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Board of Directors. On the international front, she led the USA Volleyball Under-23 Women's National Team to gold at the 2025 NORCECA Pan-American Cup before guiding the U17 National Team to gold at the 2026 NORCECA Girls U17 Pan American Cup, capping a perfect 4-0 tournament run.
The extension comes as DePaul volleyball prepares for a landmark 2026 slate, headlined by the program's first-ever match at Wintrust Arena against five-time national champion Nebraska on Sept. 4, followed by a home match against 2024 National Champion Penn State on Sept. 7 at McGrath-Phillips Arena.
Zidek's tenure has also been defined by success in the classroom. DePaul volleyball has earned the USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award for 18-straight seasons and posted a program-best 3.783 team GPA in 2024, part of two BIG EAST Team Academic Excellence Awards during her time as head coach.
Zidek returned to DePaul in 2017 after stints at San Diego and Buffalo, having previously served on the Blue Demons' staff as an assistant coach from 2010-12. She has been involved with USA Volleyball's National Team Development Program for more than a decade and was named an AVCA 30 Under 30 honoree earlier in her career. She holds a Kinesiology degree from Northern Illinois and a master's in Exercise and Sports Science from Oregon State.
FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONS
Stay up to date with all things DePaul Volleyball at DePaulBlueDemons.com. For real-time updates, follow the Blue Demons on X, Instagram, and Facebook, or sign up for email updates and text alerts.
2026 VOLLEYBALL SEASON TICKET DEPOSITS
Season Ticket Memberships are now live for the 2026 DePaul Volleyball season! Season ticket memberships include access to all 15 anticipated regular season matches at McGrath-Phillips Arena in Lincoln Park, plus an opportunity to purchase tickets for the Wintrust Arena match against Nebraska. Season tickets are available beginning at $79 for general admission and $129 for courtside seating! Want to bring your team to the match? Group Ticket Deposits are also available for parties of 10 or more. Single game tickets will go on sale this Summer.
Visit https://depaulbluedemons.evenue.net/list/VB to reserve your seats today.
Since taking over in December 2017, Zidek has overseen one of the most successful stretches in program history, leading the Blue Demons to five winning seasons in the last six years and guiding DePaul to its first three BIG EAST Tournament appearances in program history (2021, 2023 and 2024), with semifinal appearances in each tournament. Freshman Kendall Timme capped the 2025 campaign by earning BIG EAST Co-Freshman of the Year, becoming the first player in program history to claim the award. Zidek now ranks third in program history with 105 career wins.
In 2024, DePaul recorded its first sweep in BIG EAST Tournament history with a quarterfinal victory over St. John's before advancing to the conference semifinals. Behind a program-best four All-BIG EAST honorees, Rachel Krasowski became the program's first BIG EAST Libero of the Year. The Blue Demons eclipsed 20 wins in a season for the first time since 2001, hosted their first postseason volleyball match at McGrath-Phillips Arena as part of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) and advanced to the NIVC Great 8, the furthest postseason run in program history.
In 2023, DePaul earned the program's first BIG EAST Tournament victory with a quarterfinal win over Xavier before advancing to the conference semifinals. The Blue Demons also secured their first postseason tournament victory, defeating SIU in the NIVC.
Zidek's profile has grown well beyond Lincoln Park. In November 2025, she was re-elected to a second term as the Division I Women's Volleyball Representative on the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Board of Directors. On the international front, she led the USA Volleyball Under-23 Women's National Team to gold at the 2025 NORCECA Pan-American Cup before guiding the U17 National Team to gold at the 2026 NORCECA Girls U17 Pan American Cup, capping a perfect 4-0 tournament run.
The extension comes as DePaul volleyball prepares for a landmark 2026 slate, headlined by the program's first-ever match at Wintrust Arena against five-time national champion Nebraska on Sept. 4, followed by a home match against 2024 National Champion Penn State on Sept. 7 at McGrath-Phillips Arena.
Zidek's tenure has also been defined by success in the classroom. DePaul volleyball has earned the USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award for 18-straight seasons and posted a program-best 3.783 team GPA in 2024, part of two BIG EAST Team Academic Excellence Awards during her time as head coach.
Zidek returned to DePaul in 2017 after stints at San Diego and Buffalo, having previously served on the Blue Demons' staff as an assistant coach from 2010-12. She has been involved with USA Volleyball's National Team Development Program for more than a decade and was named an AVCA 30 Under 30 honoree earlier in her career. She holds a Kinesiology degree from Northern Illinois and a master's in Exercise and Sports Science from Oregon State.
FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONS
Stay up to date with all things DePaul Volleyball at DePaulBlueDemons.com. For real-time updates, follow the Blue Demons on X, Instagram, and Facebook, or sign up for email updates and text alerts.
2026 VOLLEYBALL SEASON TICKET DEPOSITS
Season Ticket Memberships are now live for the 2026 DePaul Volleyball season! Season ticket memberships include access to all 15 anticipated regular season matches at McGrath-Phillips Arena in Lincoln Park, plus an opportunity to purchase tickets for the Wintrust Arena match against Nebraska. Season tickets are available beginning at $79 for general admission and $129 for courtside seating! Want to bring your team to the match? Group Ticket Deposits are also available for parties of 10 or more. Single game tickets will go on sale this Summer.
Visit https://depaulbluedemons.evenue.net/list/VB to reserve your seats today.
Players Mentioned
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/ WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALLFriday, October 24
Sunday, September 21
Wednesday, September 17
Sunday, September 14