Melissa Avila was announced as the fourth head coach in UT Permian Basin Volleyball history on March 27, 2026.
Avila joined the program after spending the 2025 season at fellow Lone Star Conference member institution Cameron University as the Aggies’ Head Volleyball Coach.
Before Cameron, Avila served as the head coach at Western Texas College for six seasons. Avila took over the Western Texas program in the summer of 2019. In the 2023 season, she led the Westerners to an 18-win season and a fourth-place finish in the NJCAA Region V Tournament. Avila also served as the assistant coach at Western Texas for two seasons and Hastings College for two seasons where she was part of the 2016 National Championship team. In addition to coaching at Western Texas, Avila was the head volleyball coach of the 17U Texas 432 Club Volleyball team from 2021-2024.
Raised in Gilroy, California, Avila attended Gilroy High School where she played volleyball year-round. She was a three-time First-Team All Tri-County Athletic League member. Upon graduation, Avila attended Gavilan Community College where she was a two-year starter. During her time at Gavilan, she was two-time First-Team All-Coast Conference. She earned her Associate of Arts degree in general business.
After graduation, Avila continued her education and playing career at Dickinson State University where she was a two-year starter and team MVP. She graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in exercise science and a minor in business and coaching. After her senior season, Avila stayed on as an assistant student coach.
Avila then continued her education at Hastings College in Nebraska, where she was a Graduate Assistant for two seasons while completing her master’s degree. During her two seasons as a graduate assistant, the team made the postseason both years and won the 2016 NAIA National Championship, the first in program history. She had the privilege of coaching three All-Americans, the 2016 National Tournament MVP, and the 2016 National Libero of the Year. She earned her Master of Arts degree in secondary physical education and coaching.
