Steve Santonastaso was named the head coach at Rhode Island on March 22, 2017 after 12 years as an assistant with the program.

Santonastaso – who had been the associate head coach for the previous nine seasons - became just the second head coach in Rhode Island history since women's volleyball was recognized as a varsity sport by the NCAA in 1981. He replaced Bob Schneck, who retired at the end of the 2016 season, following 36 years at the helm of the program.

"I am so happy to have Steve Santonastaso take over as our head volleyball coach," Rhode Island Director of Athletics Thorr Bjorn said in announcing Santonastaso's hiring. "He has been an integral part of our program for a long time. Over the years, he has taken on many additional duties that have helped us achieve incredible success. I am excited to continue working with Steve to put our volleyball program in the best possible position to compete for an Atlantic 10 Championship."

ONE OF 15 ORIGINAL BEACH COACHES IN NCAA | 2017 BEST INDOOR SEASON IN 12 YEARS + BEST BEACH SEASON IN 6 YEAR HISTORY

ASSISTANT COACH - COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON

RUNNER UP SOUTHERN CONFERENCE

ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH - UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA

INITIATED BEACH PROGRAM

ASSISTANT COACH - STANFORD UNIVERSITY

Iain McCoy begins his third season with the Rhody volleyball team in 2017. Prior to joining the women's volleyball staff, he served as an assistant on URI's men's volleyball club team.

A native of Greenock, Scotland, McCoy graduated from Rhode Island in 2013 with a degree in marine biology and a minor in marine archaeology. During his time in Kingston, he was a five-year starter and two-time captain for the men's volleyball club team.

Rachel Bello is a former DIGS player who played with the team for six years. Rachel attended the University of Rhode Island where she was a four-year letter winner and received a degree in Kinesiology. She also worked for the Rams in the 2008 season as an assistant coach. While in Rhode Island she worked as an assistant club coach for the Little Rhody's junior volleyball club for four years. She also worked at the URI volleyball camp for five years; as an assistant coach in 2005 and 2006, an assistant camp director in 2007 and head coach in 2008 and 2009. She has been the camp manager at URI for the last two years. Rachel has coached at many other high profile camps including, Yale, Princeton, All American Volleyball, and Union College. After college she was a physical education teacher for three years before she decided to pursue her dream of playing professional overseas in Austria. While she was in Austria she continued to coach a juniors team.

This is Rachel's 9th season coaching with the DIGS club. Rachel was an active player in the local adult circuit. She traveled to the Women's national championship for seven years and played for the PVL team for three years. She currently plays professional beach volleyball and competes locally as well as at the professional level.