FAYETTE, Iowa - UIU volleyball head coach Sarah Hull has announced the hiring of Dillan Baum as the next assistant volleyball coach of the program. Baum joins the staff after two years at Illinois College as an assistant coach.
"I am thrilled to welcome Dillan to the Peacock Volleyball family," Hull said. "I know he is the right person to help bring this program to the next level, and his experience on the court as an athlete and coach will help this program tremendously. Dillan also brings a great level of recruiting experience that will help elevate our program."
During his time at Illinois College, Baum aided the team to back-to-back conference tournament appearances. The team had the highest GPA of any team on campus, and he coached six all-conference players.
Before Illinois College, Baum earned his bachelor's degree in psychology at Augustana (Ill.) while both playing and coaching for the Vikings from 2017-21.
"What I enjoy most about coaching is getting to see your players develop and grow not only as volleyball players, but as people," Baum said. "Being a college athlete taught me some of the greatest life lessons, and I had an incredible experience. I love creating a learning environment that is energetic and fun, and can't wait to bring that to Dorman Memorial Gymnasium."
Baum has also served as a club volleyball coach for the Springfield Shock in 2024-25 and Illini United from 2021-22. The Decatur, Illinois, native was a student coach in high school at Warrensburg-Latham and Mt. Zion from 2013-17. He played for the UNO Volleyball Club in 2015-17.
"What makes Dillan perfect for Upper Iowa is his relationship-centered coaching philosophy," Hull said. "Dillan's passion, competitive nature and care for his student-athletes were the first things we noticed throughout the interview process, and I knew immediately that he was the person for the job. I am thrilled to have Dillan joining our staff, and I know that he will excel at Upper Iowa."
Baum is excited about the opportunity ahead of him with the UIU volleyball program.
"What stood out to me about Upper Iowa was the vision," Baum said. "There's a clear commitment to competing at a high level while developing student-athletes on and off the field. The resources, the support and the passion from the community make this a special place. I believe in what Sarah and I can build here and am excited for what the future holds for the Peacock Volleyball program."
