Naperville Central named Eric Kaisling as its new girls volleyball head coach on Jan. 7. Kaisling succeeds longtime head coach Brie Isaacson and will be stepping into the position after serving as an assistant coach on the girls team for 21 years. 

Isaacson’s tenure was marked by leading the team to both of their state championship seasons in 2005 and 2006, where Kaisling served as an assistant coach. Kaisling also served as interim head coach for the boys volleyball team in 2022.

“I’m super excited for the opportunity,” Kaisling said. “I’ve been a part of the girls program for 21 years under two different head coaches, and both of them were exceptionally organized and very good at what they did. It’s my turn to do the same thing for the program.”

Kaisling has worked at Central since 2004 as a Spanish teacher.

“Mr. Kaisling is somebody who has been a member of the Naperville Central community for a very long time,” Athletic Director Jeff Plackett said. “Even outside of volleyball, I think everybody really knows him as a dedicated teacher, a dedicated coach and also a big presence around our building.”

One of Kaisling’s goals as head coach is to build on Isaacson’s foundation of a strong community in the program.

“I’m excited to continue to make Naperville Central girls volleyball a program that has high standards and great work ethic,” Kaisling said. “When other schools think about us, they’ll think, ‘that’s a well-run program.’ It’s an opportunity to make an impact on the school.”

Kaisling also intends to collaborate with junior high Athletic Directors to create events that foster a stronger connection between the volleyball program and the larger community.

“I’m really excited for the opportunity [and] I hope the girls are equally as excited,” Kaisling said. “At the end of the day it’s gonna be a great fall season.”