SACRAMENTO -- John Fluette, who played and coached at Sacramento State, is returning to his alma mater as assistant volleyball coach, it was announced today by Hornet head coach Ruben Volta.

Fluette (pronounced Floo-wet) will take over for former Hornet assistant Ed Jackson, who was named the Butte College head coach last week. Fluette will join Volta, and assistants Aven Lee and Sarah Chlebana on the Sacramento State sidelines this season.

A native of Antelope, Calif., Fluette will begin his second stint on the Hornets' coaching staff. He served in an assistant capacity with the program from 2015-18. No stranger to Sacramento State, he also spent five years playing for the Hornet men's club volleyball team (2012-17) where he was a two-time All-American.

During his previous coaching stop with the Hornets, he served in both an assistant coach and volunteer capacity. That included the 2017 season, when as an assistant coach, he helped the team to a Big Sky Conference regular season championship, a 26-10 overall record, 15-1 in league play, and a trip to the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC). The conference title was the program's first since 2007.

"We are very excited to have John back on campus," Volta said "We experienced success during his previous tenure, he is very familiar with the program, and knows our system and what to expect day in and day out. He's great in the gym, has a good rapport with the players, and I've enjoyed working with him in the past."

During his four years with the program, the Hornets combined for an 88-45 overall record, 51-14 in league, and won at least 20 games three times. That included back-to-back Big Sky South Division championships (2017, 2016). In addition, the team won 31 consecutive Big Sky regular season home matches, a streak that stretched from the beginning of the 2015 season until late 2018.

"I am very excited to be back at my alma mater," Fluette said. "Sacramento State has been family to me over the years, and I'm looking forward to helping the program continue its success now and into the future."

Fluette spent five years playing for Sacramento State's club volleyball team where he was a two-time All-American, four-time all-league selection and two-time team captain. He helped the Hornets to a 155-62 combined record, and finished his career with 1,845 kills, 786 digs, 395 blocks and 190 aces.

In between his coaching stints at Sacramento State, Fluette worked in the public health field. He has a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) credential through the National Environmental Health Association.

He graduated from Sacramento State in 2018 with an environmental studies degree.