Andrew Viselli Retires From Coaching Volleyball After 30 Years, Nine On Nantucket

Andrew Viselli, the founder of Nantucket High School’s volleyball program in 2015, has retired from coaching after 30 years - including nine years leading and developing the island's program.

The Whalers played club volleyball in 2015 and 2016 before becoming an official varsity program in 2017. Viselli led the Whalers to the Division. 4 state semifinal in 2022. He was inducted into the Massachusetts Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2022.

“The decision was easy. It just was,” Viselli said. “I had a conversation with myself. I had a conversation with Travis (Lombardi, NHS athletic director), and I walked away from that, and I felt light. That told me all everything I needed to know.”

“I’m going to miss the girls. I want them to do well, and I have offered my help in terms of mentoring whoever they bring in if they want that. If they don’t, I understand,” Viselli added. “But I am here to help make sure the program remains where it has been. I think there are some really qualified candidates. There are some candidates with good experience who may be able to do some things with this team, this program that I wasn’t able to do with this team, which is exciting.”

Viselli began coaching volleyball during his senior year of college at Salem State in 1994 after playing for three years and knew instantly it was his dream job. He went on to coach at St. John Prep immediately after college - coaching 18 years and winning three state championships in 2002, 2006, and 2008. In 2010, Viselli was inducted into St. John Prep’s Hall of Fame.

Eventually, Viselli returned to Salem State to be their women and men’s head coach and made other coaching stops at Reading Memorial High School, Stoneham, and Endicott College, where he founded their volleyball program as well.

Viselli moved to Nantucket full-time in 2011 and for years, advocated for a varsity volleyball program. He finally got his wish in 2015. He has been the only coach in the program’s history. He said he spoke to former captain Chloe Marrero, who graduated this past June, and senior captain, two-time all-state libero Vicky Todorova about his decision.

Viselli said he is looking forward to spending his time continuing to grow his meditation/breath work private business, as well as continue working on a book he is in the process of writing. He felt stepping away from coaching at this time was in the best interest of himself and the team despite the enjoyment coaching has brought him over the years.

“I am just very grateful for the opportunity to coach here,” Viselli said. “We have had some great players and great coverage here that has helped our program get to where it is today. But for me, it was just time, and it is all good. I feel like this program is in a really good position. There are a bunch of returning starters this year with varsity experience and tournament experience. There are some really good players coming up the ranks here too. But it is time to move onto the next chapter… whatever it may be.”