Since assuming head coach duties in 2019, Fernando Morales has transformed the Evansville volleyball program into a true contender in the Missouri Valley Conference. He has led the program to the conference championship in three of his four seasons while directing the program to a berth 2021 National Invitational Volleyball Championship, its first postseason trip since the early 1980's.
His passion and work with the sport of volleyball is not limited to the Purple Aces. He was named the head coach of the Puerto Rico National Team in the fall of 2020 and works extensively to grow the sport in the Evansville community. In 2024, Morales became the head coach of the South Korean Women's National Team.
Under Morales' guidance, Giulia Cardona enjoyed one of the best seasons in program and Missouri Valley Conference history. Cardona led the nation in kills and points while becoming the first Purple Aces player to earn MVC Player of the Year accolades. She was later named All-Region and an All-American Honorable Mention. Cardona's 593 kills was the 7th-most in a season in conference history.
UE enjoyed a banner season in 2022 with Morales at the helm. The Aces earned 11 MVC victories, the most since joining the league in 1994 and just the second time UE finished above .500 in conference matches. Capping off the season was the program hosting the MVC Championship for the first time inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse as Evansville defeated Southern Illinois for its second-ever tournament victory. Alondra Vazquez set the program record with 1,911 career kills while Giulia Cardona reset the single-season Aces record with 574 kills. Both earned First Team All-MVC accolades while Kora Ruff was recognized on the league's All-Freshman squad.
Under his leadership, the Purple Aces won 21 matches in the fall of 2021. It was the first 20-win season since 1988. The program earned its first-ever road win over Northern Iowa on its way to a 5th-place finish in the regular season standings. Taking part in the 2021 NIVC, the Purple Aces picked up two postseason victories.
His player development skills are just as impressive. Alondra Vazquez was named a First Team All-MVC player in the fall of 2021 for the second time in her career. She completed the season with a conference-best 494 kills, which set a new single-season program record. Vazquez joined Morales at the 2022 NORCECA Final Four, representing their native Puerto Rico.
Giulia Cardona was named the 2021 MVC Freshman of the Year following an unbelievable season that saw her pace the league in service aces while setting a program single-season freshman record with 467 kills. Cardona was one of two UE players to earn a spot on the MVC All-Freshman squad. Melanie Feliciano picked up her first spot on the All-MVC First Team. She completed the fall with 3.28 kills and 2.52 digs per set.
Morales joined the Purple Aces staff as Assistant Volleyball Coach in 2018 and was officially named the Head Coach of the Aces on October 30, 2019 after leading the program on an interim basis. The impact Morales had on the UE program was immediate. He led the team to a 16-14 record in 2019 along with a 6th place finish in the Missouri Valley Conference. It was the first winning record for UE since 2010 and the first berth in the conference tournament since 2008. On the individual side – freshman Melanie Feliciano had one of the best debut seasons in the Aces record books. Her 456 kills was the most for an Evansville freshman in program history and she finished in the top three in kill average in the MVC and among all freshmen in the NCAA.
He directed senior Gabriela Macedo to a record-breaking performance on the defensive side of the floor, setting the single season program mark with 704 digs, second-best in Valley history. She set the single-match mark with 46.
Following the season, Morales was recognized as one of the VolleyballMag.com Under 40 Coaching Hotshots.
Playing under unique circumstances in the spring of 2021 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Morales directed his young team to success while Vazquez earned a spot on the All-MVC First Team while leading the nation in attacks and ranking in the top 25 in kills. Senior Allana McInnis completed her career with the third-highest assist total in program history.
Morales brings 19 years of National and International playing experience to the Purple Aces with 12 of them coming overseas. He brings extensive experience with both indoor and beach volleyball to UE.
Morales also brings a wide range of coaching experience to the program. An assistant coach at the professional level at Changas, he has also worked in several positions at the University of Kentucky camps, Cruz Control, Specialized Position Academy and the Fernando Morales Volleyball Camp.
A National Team Captain in Puerto Rico, Morales also played professionally in his native Puerto Rico along with Spain, Austria, Cyprus, Russia, Lebanon and Greece. Professional organizations that he played for include: Playeros, Caribes, Criollos, Patriotas, Plataneros, Mets, Capitanes, PTV Malaga, HYPO VBK Klagenfurt, Hypo Tirol Inssbruck, Ajjacio, Hot Volleys, AEK Karava, Enisey Krasnoyarsk, Boucherieh, Orange and Pamvochaikos.
He was a 3-time Pro League Champion and accumulated numerous awards in his career along with a silver medal in the 2008 Olympic Qualifiers. He also played in the 2007 World Cup, earning a 6th place finish.
Team and Individual Awards
- Champion Puerto Rican League 2008, 2009-2010
- Best setter Puerto Rican League 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014
- Best Server Puerto Rican League 2008, 2010
- MVP Puerto Rican League 2008
- 1st team All-Star Puerto Rican League 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014
- Finalist Puerto Rican League 2001
- Finalist Austrian League 2007, 2009
- All Star Game Puerto Rico 2004, 2005, 2006, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016
- 3rd Place Puerto Rican League 2006
-National Team 2001- 2014
-Competed in world league 2010
-Best Setter Pan-Am Cup 2009 Chiapas, Mexico
-Best Setter Pan-Am Cup 2007 Dominican Republic
-Silver Medal Olympic Qualifier 2008 Puerto Rico
-6th Place World Cup 2007 Japan
-Silver Medal NORCECA 2007 USA
-Silver Medal Pan-Am Cup 2007 Dominican Republic
-Pan-Am Cup 2010 Puerto Rico
-NORCECA 2009 Puerto Rico
-Pan-Am Cup 2009 Mexico
-Olympic Qualifier 2008 Portugal
-Olympic Qualifier 2008 Puerto Rico
-World Cup 2007 Japan
-NORCECA 2007 USA
-Pan-Am Games 2007 Brazil
-Pan-Am Cup 2007 Dominican Republic
-NORCECA 2005 Canada
-NORCECA 2001 Barbados
-Junior National Team 2000-2001
-Best Setter Junior NORCECA 2000 Cuba
-Silver Medal NORCECA Cuba 2000
-World Championship Qualifier 2001 Brazil
-NORCECA Cuba 2000
Beach Volleyball
-2nd place University league 2000
-2nd place University League 2004
-University league Champion 2005
-Qualified for last round of NORCECA Continental Cup 2011
-Bronze Medal 2012 NORCECA Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
