Joel Banks at helm of Netherlands

The volleyball federation of the Netherlands (Nevobo) appointed Joel Banks at the helm of the Dutch men’s national team. His contract is for a period of two years with an option of extending it for another two. The 49-year-old Briton takes over from Roberto Piazza, who became head coach the Iranian national team.

Banks will make his official debut on the new job in the Volleyball Nations League and later in the year, he will lead the current number 13 team in the FIVB World Ranking at September’s FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship 2025 to be held in Manila.

“The Netherlands are a true volleyball country with not only a great history, but also a great future,” Banks told volleybal.nl. “I am certain that the team has enough potential in the coming years to maintain its current position on the world stage and to work towards new goals from there.”

Joel Banks’s previous national team assignments include Finland, Great Britain and the junior and youth teams of Belgium. He was also assistant coach of Great Britain towards and at the London 2012 Olympic Games, and of the senior team of Belgium. The former setter has also had a successful coaching career in club volleyball. Currently, he is at the helm of Berlin Recycling Volleys. Last season he steered them to a golden treble (title, cup and super cup) in Germany, and they have already defended the super cup trophy this season under his direction. Before that, Banks was in charge of powerhouses like Poland’s PGE Skra Belchatow and Belgium’s Greenyard Maaseik, as well as several other Belgian and Dutch club teams, and collected several national trophies and medals.

“Banks has earned his spurs in international volleyball and is well prepared for the assignment we are giving him,” commented Nevobo’s technical director Heleen Crielaard. “We were looking for a coach with experience and with whom we can confidently start a new period. We are pleased with a coach, who fits so well in the profile we have drawn up.”

The Netherlands will open their VNL 2025 campaign with a game against Poland on June 11 in Xi’an. They will also meet Türkiye, hosts China and Japan during the first competition week. The Oranjes will travel to the Serbian capital Belgrade for the second competition week, where they will take on Argentina, Germany, Cuba and Iran. They will complete their Preliminary Phase participation with matches against Ukraine, hosts Slovenia, Canada and Italy in Ljubljana. At the World Championship in September, Joel Banks’s new team will compete in Pool B against Qatar, Romania and Poland.

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