Gary Sien returns to the sideline for his 10th year as head coach of the Women’s Volleyball team at Vincennes University (VU). A veteran of 39 collegiate coaching seasons, Sien has led the Trailblazers since 2016, coinciding with their transition to NJCAA Division I. Under his leadership, VU Volleyball has experienced a historic rise, including a current streak of four consecutive Region 24 Championships (2021–2024), multiple NJCAA national rankings, and consistent postseason appearances.
In 2024, the Trailblazers continued their dominance in Region 24, finishing the regular season with a strong 30–13 overall record and an 18–3 mark in Region play, securing the No. 2 seed in the Region 24 Tournament. Led by sophomore NJCAA Division I All-American Isadora Dias (Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil), VU capitalized on her offensive firepower, supported by standout seasons from sophomore Elisa Dalla Pozza (Vincenza, Italy), sophomore Laura Tavares (Merida, Venezuela), and sophomore Libby Mehringer (Jasper, Ind.)—each earning All-Region honors for their efforts. The Trailblazers went on to defeat No. 4 seed Southwestern Illinois College in four sets to capture their fourth consecutive Region 24 Championship, earning the right to host the NJCAA Midwest District Championship the following week. Although their season ended in a narrow five-set loss to Jefferson College in the District Semifinals, the 2024 Trailblazers solidified their place among the region’s elite and continued their upward trajectory on the national stage.
The Trailblazers’ 2023 campaign stands as the program's most successful at the Division I level under Sien. VU finished with a stellar 32–7 overall record, going a perfect 14–0 in Region 24 play and 13–0 at home. The team captured their third straight Region 24 title, achieved a program‑high national ranking of No. 18, won both the Blazer Classic and Showdown on the Wabash tournaments, and produced four NJCAA Division I All‑Region honorees—highlighted by Paige Parlanti’s back‑to‑back Region Player of the Year awards and NJCAA DI All‑American recognition.
Coach Sien recorded his 700th NJCAA career win in 2022—becoming one of just 15 coaches in NJCAA history to reach that milestone—and now ranks among the top five active NJCAA coaches in all-time wins. At VU, he has developed 25 players who have moved on to four-year programs and 29 NJCAA Academic All-Americans, while consistently producing All-Region and All-American-caliber talent. In 2025, Sien received the NJCAA Legacy Award for his long-term impact on two-year collegiate volleyball.
Before arriving at VU, Sien coached 16 seasons at Kankakee Community College, where he tallied 525 wins, two NJCAA Region 4 titles, five NJCAA All-Americans, and 14 NJCAA Top-25 finishes. His 2003 team at Kankakee was ranked number one in the nation for two consecutive weeks. Sien is a four-time NJCAA Region Coach of the Year and a 1989 graduate of Trinity International University, where he captained the men's volleyball team and earned MVP honors. During college, he also played for the Athletes in Action men's team during college, touring Peru, Ecuador, and Venezuela.