Chris Cole, shown with his wife, Bérengére, and their four children, are shown after Chris accepted the head coaching position for West Noble’s volleyball program. (Photo provided)

LIGONIER – West Noble has become an area force in volleyball in recent years, and hopes the hiring of Chris Cole can keep that mojo working.

Cole takes over for the departed Kaija Kauffman, who led the Chargers to a pair of sectional titles in the past three years. The Chargers, which went 29-6 last fall, reached the Class 3-A regional finals, the furthest the team has achieved in the state tournament.

Cole has nearly 30 years of volleyball coaching experience in California and Indiana. His latest high school stop was at Wawasee, where he coached for part of the 2015 season before health concerns sidelined him after 11 games. Cole also has experience coaching in the Northern Indiana Volleyball Association.

Kauffman had a tremendous run for the Chargers, in three years compiling an 85-21 record with the two sectional titles. In those years, Kauffman oversaw the development of standout Madison Schermerhorn, who is committed to play volleyball at Purdue University.

Cole’s wife, Bérengére, also has local coaching ties, having guided the Wawasee Middle School gymnastics program this past season.