Alec Straw joined the Abilene Christian volleyball staff ahead of the 2025 campaign as the program's graduate assistant. A native of Rock Island, Ill., Straw is responsible for technical training of the team's pin hitters and managing in-match defensive blocking schematics and strategy. In addition, he controls scouting of opponents' offensive systems to identify patterns for technical advantages.
Straw steered the Wildcats to a historic campaign in 2025 as they collected 13 victories, their most since 2018. ACU hosted the Western Athletic Conference Tournament at Moody Colisuem, the program's first time staging a conference tournament since 2005, where it secured the fourth seed to match its highest conference tournament seeding in the Division I era. With a five-set win over reigning WAC champion UT Arlington, the Wildcats captured their first WAC Tournament victory and first win in a conference tournament since 2017. Four Wildcats garnered All-Conference honors, the most in the program's DI history. Hannah Gonzalez led the way with All-WAC First Team distinction, becoming the first Wildcat to be named to an All-Conference First Team since 2020-21. Rachel Koss collected All-WAC Second Team recognition, and Brennan Ramirez and Hadlee Welch represented ACU on the All-WAC Freshman Team. It was the first time two Wildcats had been named amongst the top freshmen in the WAC. In the classroom, Gonzalez, Koss, Izabelle Larson and Avery Thaler received Academic All-District accolades from College Sports Communicators.
Straw joined the Wildcats from UC Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, Calif., where he served as a volunteer assistant coach during the 2024 season. As the Gauchos' offensive coordinator, he devised and implemented offensive strategies while developing technical skills for athletes at all positions, particularly setters. Straw aided in team recruiting efforts through phone calls, visits and evaluations and directed summer camps for upwards of 280 athletes. He also structured logistics of team travel and managed the ordering and distribution of team equipment and apparel.
UCSB went 10-8 in the Big West Conference in 2024, ranking third in the 11-team league in points per set (16.38) and kills per set (12.95) and second in assists per set (12.18). The Gauchos ranked fifth in hitting percentage (.220) and blocks per set (2.08). Straw mentored outside hitter Eva Travis, who was named the Big West Freshman of the Year and earned First Team All-Big West and All-Freshman Team honors. Her 378 kills were good for seventh in the conference.
Prior to his work at UCSB, Straw took on a number of coaching roles with Iowa Select Volleyball Club from 2020-24. He managed teams participating in the 16 Open, 17 Club, 15U and 14 Patriot divisions and helped organize player development camps and clinics. Additionally, Straw directed club tournaments and oversaw staff, finances and match organization. In 2023, he coached at Iowa High Performance, administering drills and evaluating athlete performance.
Straw coached at the high school level from 2022-23 as head coach at Durant High School and as an assistant coach at Moline High School. He was responsible for managing 80 athletes and four coaches through implementation of film analysis, stat keeping and interpretation and lifting programs.
Straw graduated from Augustana College in May 2024 with a Bachelor's degree in business management with a focus on finance. He played Division III men's volleyball for three seasons as a pin hitter and defensive specialist.
