GRAMBLING, La. | Grambling State University volleyball head coach Paige Phillips has added a seasoned leader to her coaching staff with the hiring of Daniel Cabrera as an assistant coach.

Cabrera joins the Lady Tigers after serving as the head coach at the University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM), where he led the Warhawks indoor volleyball program. Prior to his promotion to head coach in 2024, Cabrera served as an assistant during the 2023 season and was elevated to interim head coach before earning the full-time position.

"I'm incredibly excited to welcome Daniel Cabrera to the Grambling State volleyball coaching staff. He brings a wealth of experience across all levels of the game, with valuable insight from both the men's and women's sides of the sport. His passion, dedication, and volleyball IQ are undeniable, and I know his impact will be felt immediately." said Phillips. "Coach Cabrera will also play a key role in our recruiting efforts as we continue building something special here at Grambling. We're thrilled to have him on board."

Before his time at ULM, Cabrera made his mark at Olivet Nazarene University, where he served as the program director and head coach for both the men's and women's volleyball teams. 

In 2020, he guided the women's team to a 20–2 record, winning the conference regular-season and tournament championships, and earning a national tournament berth. That same season, Cabrera was named Chicagoland Conference Coach of the Year.

Cabrera also launched ONU's men's volleyball program in 2020. Under his direction, the Tigers rose to a national top-20 ranking by 2022 and finished as runners-up at the NCCAA Tournament. 

During his tenure at ONU, he produced two NAIA All-Americans, a conference Player of the Year, and 16 all-conference selections.

Cabrera's coaching journey also includes stints at Culver-Stockton College, where he led the women's program, and as an assistant under Olympian Caren Kemner. He's also coached elite-level club volleyball and represented USA Volleyball's Iowa High Performance program.

As a player, Cabrera competed at Hannibal-LaGrange University from 2009–2014 and later played professionally for the Great Lakes Lightning. A Chicago native, he was a four-sport athlete at Saint Patrick High School, where he led his team to a fourth-place finish at the IHSA State Championships and a national ESPN Top 50 ranking.









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