Colorado University Athletics
Staff Directory
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
- Email:
Lee Maes enters his 11th season with the Colorado volleyball program in 2026 and his 10th as associate head coach. He joined the Buffaloes in January 2016 as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator before being promoted following his first season in Boulder.
During his tenure at Colorado, Maes has helped guide the Buffaloes to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 run in 2017 and a return to postseason play in 2025. Colorado finished the 2025 season with a 23-9 overall record and a 12-6 mark in its second season in the Big 12, earning the program's 22nd NCAA Tournament appearance. The Buffs advanced to the NCAA Second Round after sweeping American in the opening round and finished with their highest win total since 2017. Colorado's 23 victories tied for the third-most wins in program history and marked the school's 13th 20-win season.
A veteran coach with more than three decades of collegiate and national team experience, Maes has helped recruit and develop numerous All-Americans, all-region performers and all-conference selections throughout his career. At Colorado, he played a key role in assembling a nationally ranked recruiting class following the 2018 season and has helped elevate the program's success across both the Pac-12 and Big 12 eras.
Before arriving at Colorado, Maes served as an assistant coach at Louisville from 2012-14, helping the Cardinals compile a 68-27 record, win conference championships and make multiple NCAA Tournament appearances. He also spent the 2015 season at Wesleyan University while pursuing a master's degree in liberal studies.
Maes was the head coach at Virginia from 2008-11, where he recruited the two highest-ranked recruiting classes in program history and coached the Cavaliers to several program milestones. Prior to Virginia, he spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Nebraska, helping the Cornhuskers win the 2006 NCAA Championship, reach the 2005 national title match and compile a 95-5 record. He also served on the coaching staff at California from 1998-2005, helping lead the Golden Bears to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances.
In addition to his collegiate experience, Maes has an extensive background with USA Volleyball, coaching multiple national teams to international gold medals and working with some of the sport's top athletes. Throughout his career, he has helped develop numerous AVCA All-Americans, conference players of the year and future Olympians.
A graduate of Long Beach State, Maes earned bachelor's degrees in journalism and geography in 1994. He is a member of USA Volleyball and the American Volleyball Coaches Association.
