Athletics
Side Out!
hen Theo Edwards assumed the role of CSUN Men’s Volleyball coach, he embodied continuity and renewal. A standout player from 2006-10, Edwards captained the Matadors to the semifinals of the NCAA tournament, setting a foundation for future success. Now, it’s his job to take the program to the next level. Following his playing days as an outside hitter, Edwards ’10 (Urban Planning), M.A. ’21 (Cultural Geography) stayed firmly rooted in the program. He joined the coaching staff in 2011 and was promoted to associate head coach in 2019, after nine seasons of recruiting elite talent and playing a central role in accumulating more than 100 wins — while competing in the Big West, the toughest men’s volleyball conference in the country. When volleyball legend Jeff Campbell ’92 (Kinesiology) announced his retirement in 2022, CSUN tapped Edwards to lead the program starting in the 2023 season. Campbell was the program’s longest-tenured head coach (with 25 seasons) and all-time leader in wins.
“When I first started coaching, I thought it was all about the competition, the X’s and O’s, the strategy, the scoreboard,” said Edwards, who’s preparing for his fourth season as head coach. “But over time, I’ve come to understand that the real reward is in the people. It’s about mentorship, about being there for these young men and about building a culture that helps them grow, not just as players, but as people prepared for life.”
In his inaugural season at the helm, Edwards sparked a resurgence. The Matadors returned to the national rankings, secured impressive wins — including a notable triumph over No. 6 Stanford — and re-entered the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top 15 for the first time since 2020.
The 2024 season saw continued momentum: A semifinal appearance in the Outrigger Big West Men’s Volleyball Championship marked the team’s deepest postseason run since 2018. CSUN also celebrated multiple individual honors for players such as Kyle Hobus, Donovan Constable and freshman Jalen Phillips.
2025 proved a milestone season for Edwards and CSUN, which finished with an 18-11 record and was ranked ninth in the final AVCA National Collegiate Coaches Poll of the season. It ended with a heartbreaker, though: a five-set loss to No. 4 UC Irvine in the quarterfinals of the Big West Championship.
The Matadors were ranked in the Top 10 in the final poll of the season for the second time in the last seven seasons.
Expectations are high for the 2026 season, which opens with invitationals in January. In one of the most competitive conferences in the country, the Matadors are on the rise.
A coach who thrives on meticulous prep, Edwards is known for intense weekly reviews and an emphasis on team culture. His philosophy? Prioritize character and cohesion above all.
Edwards’ influence extends beyond CSUN. A fixture on the USA Volleyball scene since 2012, he led the Men’s Collegiate National Team in 2024 and has played key roles across age-group national teams, including U19 and U21.
From being recruited to leading the Matadors from the sidelines, Edwards’ story is one of evolution — from hometown athlete to the architect of a promising future at CSUN and beyond.
Theo Edwards
(2007-10)
189 sets
494 kills
200 digs
Denzel Clarke: Home Run Robber
The next night, still in Toronto, Clarke hit his first major-league home run, a go-ahead two-run shot in the second inning. “I’m playing in the big leagues in front of family and friends,” Clarke told MLB.com. “That’s a really cool moment. Not everyone can say they’ve done that.”
Clarke kept up his home run-robbing ways, including June 9, when he stole one from the Angels — in what MLB commentators called “one of the greatest catches you’ll ever see in your life.”
He studied systems and operations management while playing three seasons at CSUN, before being picked by the A’s in the fourth round of the 2021 Major League draft. In 2021, he became the first Matador in team history to win the Big West Defensive Player of the Year award. —Jacob Bennett
Cox Named Softball Interim Head Coach
Cox returned to CSUN in 2025 after building an extensive coaching resume in the Division I, Division III and high school ranks. She previously served as a CSUN assistant coach under head coach Barbara Jordan from 2005-07, when the Matadors won 61 games over a three-year period and earned an NCAA Regional berth in 2007.
Cox served as pitching coach for the Matadors this past season, helping CSUN to a staff 3.61 ERA, while the team finished as runner up at the Big West Championship. Under Cox, the pitching staff racked up 180 strikeouts on the year.
In addition to CSUN, Cox previously coached at Fresno State, Cal State Fullerton, Syracuse, Occidental College, UC Riverside and Clovis East High School. As a student-athlete, Cox was a four-year starting pitcher at Fullerton from 2000-03, where she helped the Titans to four consecutive Big West titles and NCAA Tournament appearances.