Zach Salapatek took over the Kishwaukee College Womens Volleyball program as Head Coach beginning with the 2023-2024 season.  The Kish Volleyball program has a long history of success. Kishwaukee won five National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) titles in 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007 and 2008. The program has made 14 NJCAA tournament appearances and captured numerous regional and conference titles. Coach Salapatek believes the program’s rich history and tradition can continue to influence the Kougars as they establish their future identity. “The history here is great and an inspiration for what we can accomplish. My goal from day one is to establish a culture and a mentality for the future. The legacy each team leaves behind every year is a building block for everything going forward.”

Salapatek brings a wealth of volleyball experience to the program, both playing and coaching. As a coach, he worked as an assistant under Keith Foster at Genoa-Kingston High School, where he helped the Cogs capture an IHSA state title in 2022. In addition he has coached for many years with the Aggression Volleyball Club in Sycamore. He also served as an assistant coach for the Elgin High School boys team. Salapatek's experience working with multiple levels of athletes within the Kish district, overall knowlege of the local student athletes and surrounding area high schools plus contacts with area coaches of those athletes will continue to help build quality Kishwakee rosters.

In addition to his coaching experience, Salapatek had an extensive playing career. He first discovered his passion for volleyball playing in grade school, but his high school did not have a men’s team. Salapatek said he was often told he didn’t have the height or skills to compete at the college level. But when he was a student at the University of Kansas, he attempted to make the roster of the men’s club volleyball team and earned a spot after multiple days of grueling tryouts. As a member of the varsity squad, Salapatek said he had the opportunity to coach players on KU’s secondary units. “For those few years playing volleyball at the University of Kansas, I had never worked as hard as I did at anything in my life. But I proved I belonged and that is what all our Kougars student athletes will focus on...  Hard work and never giving up!"  Coach Zach will firmly establish the right mindset of hard work both on and off the court which will be the catalyst for success. "Being a student will come first, and it’s important for future success academically and athletically for student-athletes to focus on their studies.  You can inspire people in a lot of different ways other than winning, but we want to help our student-athletes to be the best they can be in every aspect.”

Kish’s Volleyball program has seen numerous athletes earn All-Academic, All-Conference and All-American honors. Additionally, multiple players have continued their careers at four-year colleges or universities.