Lyndsey Oates | Head Coach

Lyndsey Oates was named Northern Colorado’s fourth head women’s volleyball coach on August 8, 2005, just three days before the start of fall camp. Prior to taking over the program, she spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the Bears.

Since her appointment, Oates has guided Northern Colorado’s transition from an NCAA Division II powerhouse to a consistent contender at the Division I level. She led the Bears to their first Division I conference postseason championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2009. Most recently, Oates added to her legacy by leading the Bears to the 2025 Big Sky Conference Tournament Championship, securing another automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Under her leadership, the program has captured 14 Big Sky Championships and earned eight NCAA Tournament appearances. Oates has been named Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year five times (2009, 2011, 2014, 2019, and 2024).

Oates has coached 51 All-Big Sky selections, including 21 First Team honorees. She has also developed 4 Big Sky MVPs: Kelley Arnold (2011), Daisy Schultz (2019), Syd Cole (2022, 2024) Brynn Reines (Tournament MVP 2025). In 2022, Cole became the first AVCA All-American in program history.

Success under Oates extends beyond the court. The Bears have earned 14 consecutive AVCA Team Academic Awards, maintaining a team GPA of 3.30 or higher.

Oates has also provided her student-athletes with international experiences, leading overseas tours to Eastern China (2008), Nicaragua (2012), and across Europe in 2016 and 2022, including stops in Iceland, Austria, Hungary, Italy, and Greece.

“We’ve built something special here at UNC. We are at a point where we expect championships in our conference and expect to be in the NCAA Tournament,” Oates said. “We have great community and administrative support. What more can you ask for”

A native of Eaton, Colorado, Oates was a standout athlete at Eaton High School before playing collegiate volleyball as an outside hitter at LSU, where she earned her degree in mass communication in 2002. She later completed her master’s degree in athletic administration at Northern Colorado in 2004.

Oates and her husband, Mark, were married in 2012 and have two children, Dylan and Rylee.