Sports
Geoff Carlston announces retirement, Kenzie Brinkman named interim head coach
By: Grant Kiefer
Posted on:
ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — Ohio Athletics announced Friday that Ohio Volleyball head coach Geoff Carlston is retiring. According to documents obtained by the university, Carlston had one year remaining on his contract at the time of his decision. Assistant coach Kenzie Brinkman has been tabbed as the interim head coach for the 2025 season.
Carlston concludes his coaching career with an overall record of 477-276 (.633), including 209 wins while leading Ohio. During his nine seasons in Athens, he guided the Bobcats to a dominant 125-27 (.822) mark in Mid-American Conference play and went 15-12 (.556) in NCAA Tournament competition. His contributions to the program were recognized with his induction into the Kermit Blosser Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame in 2020. Carlston is the winningest coach in program history.
In the wake of Carlston’s retirement, assistant coach Kenzie Brinkman will step into the role of interim head coach for the 2025 season. Brinkman has been a key member of the coaching staff, working closely with the team’s setters and offensive unit. Under her guidance, Ohio players have earned eight MAC East Division Setter of the Week awards. The team also ranked second in the conference for assists in 2022 and finished fifth in that category in 2023 and 2024.
Brinkman’s coaching achievements were recognized nationally when she was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Thirty Under 30 College list in October 2024.