Loyola University New Orleans enters a new athletic season with fresh leadership for its indoor volleyball and men’s basketball programs. Both head coaches are committed to elevating Loyola athletics through competitive performance and a strong culture of character and resilience.
Robert “Robbie” Pitre begins his first season as head coach of the indoor volleyball program after eight years with the team, while continuing his fourth year leading the beach volleyball squad. His coaching career began with youth baseball following high school, but a move to Oregon and meeting his wife sparked his transition into volleyball. Upon returning to New Orleans, he applied for an assistant coaching position at Loyola, which prepared him for this new leadership role.
“My coaching philosophy is positively impacting the lives of student athletes by using the game of volleyball to teach resilience in the face of failure and humility in success,” Pitre said. With strong ties to much of the returning roster, he is also focused on integrating new players. “The core of my program is trust, consistency, respect, and resilience, which I hope will define the team for years to come,” he added.
Trey Lindsey returns as the 20th head coach of Loyola’s men’s basketball program. He first joined the Wolfpack in 2017-18, recruiting members of the 2021-22 NationalAssociation of Intercollegiate Athletics National Championship team, according to the Loyola University Athletics website. Since then, Lindsey has coached at the University of New Orleans and Bowie High School in Austin, Texas, before returning to lead the program.
“Success begins with players believing their coach genuinely cares about them as people,” Lindsey said. “I lead by example, never assigning a task or standard that I haven’t met myself.”
Lindsey’s vision is to build a consistent program of high-character individuals with a fearless mindset. He credits Assistant Coach Daniel Venzanas as an important addition to his staff, calling him “a rising star in the coaching world.”
Despite initial challenges with recruiting and scheduling, Lindsey remains confident. “We’re excited about the four-player class we’ve signed, and we now have a full 28-game NAIA schedule in place,” he stated.
With 14 returning players, relationship-building is a top priority.
“A new coaching staff can create anxiety, so I’m making it a priority to build relationships with each player; our goal is to make the university proud, both on and off the court.” Lindsey concluded.
