Tyler Zowaski returned to Bard in September of 2022 as the head men's volleyball coach. Zowaski is in his fourth season at the helm.
During the 2025 season, Zowaski was named an AVCA Thirty under 30 Honoree. He led the Raptors to 12 wins, the most since 2011, which sent them to the NEVC playoffs for the first time in program history. Zowaski coached first years Ansel Waisler, Sidney Stein, and Pearse Esposito, who were all honored by the NEVC. Waisler was named the Rookie of the Year and earned a spot on the All-NEVC First Team, Stein made the All-NEVC Second Team, and Esposito made the NEVC Sportsmanship Team. It was the first time in program history that the Raptors have combined a Rookie of the Year award with two all-conference selections. In addition, three Raptors were NEVC Academic All-Conference and CSC Div. III Academic All-District honorees.
During the 2024 season, the team earned three academic accolades: AVCA Team Academic Award, two players named to the CSC Academic All-District Team, and five players named to the NEVC All-Academic Team. Zowaski coached sophomore Quinn Lewis who was named to the NEVC Sportsmanship Team, and graduate student Angel Obergh who finished his Bard career no. 4 all-time in career kills (788) and career aces (130).Â
In his first year at the helm, Zowaski won a pair of conference games as the Raptors joined the NECC in their first year. Zowaski coached first-year Georgi Chikolov, who was named to the NECC Sportsmanship Team.Â
A four-year starter and two-year captain for the Raptors from 2014-18, Zowaski is No. 2 on Bard's all-time digs list. He also holds the No. 4 & 5 spots for digs in a season, and is tied for second in Bard's record book with 10 aces in a match against Yeshiva in 2017.
Prior to becoming Bard's head coach, Zowaski was the top assistant at nearby Vassar in 2021 and 2022, helping the Brewers to No. 5 final national ranking in 2021, and No. 14 in 2022.
