Coaching Staff
Head Coach Danijela Tomic
University of Cincinnati Director of Athletics John Cunningham announced on Dec. 23, 2024 the hire of Danijela Tomic as the Bearcats' head volleyball coach.
Tomic will be the 13th head coach in program history.
Tomic comes to UC from Bowling Green, where she served as head coach for 13 seasons. She also spent seven seasons as head coach of Florida International. Her record as an NCAA head coach stands at 394-222 (.640).
Overall, she has guided her teams to five NCAA Tournament appearances and seen her players collect nine All-America honors. Tomic is a six-time conference coach of the year.
"Danijela Tomic is the perfect choice to lead our volleyball program," said Director of Athletics John Cunningham. "She has demonstrated a remarkable ability to build championship-level teams and cultivate success at every stop in her career. Her dedication to developing student-athletes both on and off the court aligns perfectly with our vision for the program. We are confident she will lead us into an exciting new era of Bearcats volleyball."
In 13 seasons as head coach at BGSU, she led the Falcons to five MAC regular-season titles, three MAC Tournament championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances, including the program's first NCAA Tournament win in 2012. She was named MAC Coach of the Year three times at Bowling Green, most recently winning the honor in 2024.
"I'm honored to accept the role as head coach of the University of Cincinnati volleyball program and eager to shape its future as we lead the Bearcats to prominence in the Big 12," Tomic said.
"I am grateful to John Cunningham and the University of Cincinnati administration for giving me the opportunity to build a culture of excellence both on and off the court and to compete for championships. I look forward to start working with the team, engaging with the UC community and beginning the process of achieving great things together.
"I am forever grateful to Bowling Green State University, the Bowling Green community and especially my incredible former student-athletes for their trust, dedication and belief in me and our shared vision. The memories and success we built together over 13 years will always hold a special place in my heart.
"Now, I look forward to bringing that same passion, hard work and commitment to the UC community as we begin this exciting journey together."
Under her leadership, the Falcons secured seven 20-win seasons, reached the MAC Tournament Championship match five consecutive years (2019-2023), and set program records for winning streaks and overall performance.
Tomic's teams earned All-MAC recognition in each of her 13 seasons at Bowling Green, including at least one All-MAC First Team honoree in nine consecutive years, and posted five straight seasons with an All-Region member.
In 2024, Tomic led the Falcons to 25 victories, the highest single-season total during her tenure, and guided the team to an NIVC runner-up finish. Bowling Green also captured the MAC regular-season title with a 16-2 conference record, tied for the second-most MAC wins in program history during an 18-match schedule.
Under her guidance, Bowling Green produced two AVCA All-Americans—Lauryn Hovey, an Honorable Mention in 2024, and Petra Indrova, who earned Honorable Mention honors in both 2021 and 2022.
She led BGSU to back-to-back MAC regular-season titles in 2017 and 2018 as well as 2020-21 and 2022. During the 2020-21 season, the program saw an 18-0 start in MAC play, marking the best conference start in both MAC and BGSU Athletics history.
In 2012, she guided the Falcons to a MAC Tournament title and an NCAA appearance in her first season at BGSU. The Falcons topped Yale in the first round of the NCAA Tournament for BGSU's first NCAA Tournament win.
Prior to her arrival at Bowling Green, Tomic was a three-time Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year at Florida International. In seven years as head coach at FIU, she compiled a record of 158-61 (.721).
A 1999 graduate of Arkansas-Little Rock, Tomic was named Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year in 2006, 2008, and 2009, guiding the Panthers to the NCAA Tournament in each of those last two seasons. The 2009 team set a program record by going 32-4, which included a 17-0 mark in conference play.
Tomic took over at FIU in 2005 and made an immediate impact as her team improved by 12 wins over the previous season and reached the SBC Tournament as the No. 6 seed after missing out in two of the previous three years before her arrival.
In seven years at FIU, her players earned six AVCA All-American awards, two Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year honors, and 24 All-Sun Belt Conference awards. Under her tutelage, Yarimar Rosa, was named AVCA South Region Freshman of the Year.
Prior to her time at FIU, Tomic was an assistant coach at LSU during the 2003 and 2004 seasons. Before that, she spent six years as an assistant coach at her alma mater UALR from 1997-03.
She played at UALR from 1995-97 as an outside hitter, right side hitter, and setter, helping to lead the team to the 1996 NCAA Tournament. She was named Most Valuable Player of the SBC Tournament that year and recorded a tournament record 32 digs during the championship match in 1996.
A graduate of the NCAA Women Coaches Academy in 2013, Tomic is also a member of WeCOACH, a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to developing women coaches in all sports through professional growth & leadership development programs.
Tomic graduated from UALR in 1999 with a degree in health education. She added a Master's in Coaching and Athletics Administration from Concordia University Irvine in 2021.
Associate Head Coach Zheng Xiang
University of Cincinnati head volleyball coach Danijela Tomic has named Zheng Xiang as associate head coach and recruiting coordinator on February 6, 2025.
Zheng Xiang (pronounced Chung Shawn) joins the Bearcats after two seasons at Michigan State (2023-24), where he helped lead the Spartans to their best win total since 2019.
"I am excited to welcome Zheng to Cincinnati Volleyball as our Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator," said Tomic. "Zheng brings a wealth of experience and is highly respected in the volleyball community for his character, knowledge, work ethic, and ability to recruit and develop players at the highest level. His keen eye for talent and his passion for mentoring student-athletes will be invaluable as we build a championship-caliber program. I'm looking forward to the impact he'll have on our team and the future of Bearcats Volleyball."
Before MSU, he spent nine years at Rice, where he was elevated to associate head coach for his final four seasons. A proven recruiter, Xiang played a key role in assembling top-ranked recruiting classes at both Rice and UTSA.
"I would like to thank Coach Danijela Tomic and the entire staff for this amazing opportunity," said Xiang. "Thank you for your trust and belief in me to mentor, recruit, and serve our elite student-athletes and this University. I am humbled and blessed to be a part of something special at the University of Cincinnati. Go Bearcats!"
At Rice, Xiang played a key role in the program's rise, guiding the Owls to five straight NCAA Tournament appearances (2018-22) and multiple Conference USA titles. Rice posted a 199-69 (.742) record during his tenure, including a No. 19 national ranking in 2022. He also developed numerous All-Americans and All-Region players while serving as the team's defensive coordinator.
Xiang served as a volunteer assistant coach at Texas A&M for one season (2013) in which the Aggies reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He was an assistant coach at Texas at San Antonio for five seasons (2008-12) prior to his year in College Station.
Originally from Chicago, Xiang earned his bachelor's degree in business from Indiana in 2000 and an MBA in marketing from Texas' McCombs School of Business in 2006. Xiang was a member of Indiana's club team from 1997-2000 and was the squad's captain his final season. He also played two years at Texas, where he earned first-team All-Southern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association honors in 2006.
Assistant Coach Alison Cooke
University of Cincinnati head volleyball coach Danijela Tomić announced the addition of Alison Cooke as an assistant coach on January 14, 2025.
Cooke reunites with Tomić after spending the past eight seasons at Bowling Green State University, where she most recently served as associate head coach.
"I am honored to join the Cincinnati Volleyball program and grateful for the opportunity to build a championship program alongside Coach Tomić and Sean," said Cooke. "I believe in them, this athletics department, and this university and am looking forward to building relationships with our players while helping them continue to develop into strong, smart, and successful young women. I am grateful for Coach Tomić's trust in me and feel privileged to take the next step in our careers together. The passion for this university is palpable and I am looking forward to connecting more with our community. Go Bearcats!"
While there, she helped guide the Falcons to multiple championships, including three MAC regular season titles (2017, 2018, 2024) and two MAC Tournament crowns (2020-21, 2022) that led to NCAA Tournament appearances. The program also made five consecutive MAC Tournament Championship appearances (2019-2023), the longest streak in over a decade.
Before BGSU, Cooke was a volunteer assistant coach at Duke (2015-2017), helping the Blue Devils to back-to-back winning seasons, including a 21-9 finish in 2016.
As a player, she was a standout setter at Wingate, leading the Bulldogs to three NCAA Elite Eight appearances and earning two AVCA All-American honors. A native of Davidson, N.C., Cooke holds a psychology degree from Wingate and a master's in coaching and athletic administration from Concordia University Irvine.
Assistant Coach Sean Drexl
University of Cincinnati head volleyball coach Danijela Tomić announced the addition of Sean Drexl as an assistant coach on January 14, 2025.
Drexl joins the Cincinnati volleyball staff after working alongside Coach Tomic as Director of Operations at Bowling Green State University for the past two seasons.
"I'd like to extend my sincerest gratitude to Coach Tomic for the opportunity to join the University of Cincinnati's Volleyball staff," said Drexl. "Her unwavering commitment towards the growth and success of her athletes, staff, and program altogether is tangible. I am incredibly eager to aid Coach Tomic in bolstering Cincinnati Volleyball's position in the Big 12 Conference and community alike."
During his tenure, he contributed to the Falcons' historic 2024 campaign, which saw a 25-10 record, a MAC Championship, and an NIVC Runner-Up finish.
Before BGSU, Drexl served as an assistant coach at Presbyterian College and Georgia Southern, where he was involved in scouting, film review, statistical analysis, and match preparation.
His coaching career began as the U16 head coach for MVP Academy in Florida while he played collegiately as a libero at the University of Charleston. A 2021 All-Conference EIVA Second Team selection, Drexl earned his bachelor's degree in exercise science from Charleston.