When the Illinois volleyball team faces Minnesota on Wednesday, it will be a reunion of longtime friends and colleagues.

Illinois head coach Kevin Hambly’s history with Minnesota coach Hugh McCutcheon dates back to when both were in college at BYU. The two played together for the Cougars from 1992-93 before McCutcheon graduated.

Both went their separate ways but were reunited on the USA National team as assistant coaches from 2001-2004 — Hambly on the women’s side, McCutcheon on the men’s side. Hambly left for Illinois, while McCutcheon joined Minnesota three years ago.

Hambly was even the best man at McCutcheon’s wedding.

“He’s one of my best friends,” Hambly said. “Whatever that means. At 40 years old, you don’t really have BFFs, but he’s one of the guys I talk to the most.”

On top of their personal connection, the two have similarities in coaching styles. Both run the same blocking scheme, which they learned from their time at Team USA. It’s been effective, as Minnesota leads the Big Ten in blocks per set and is 11th nationally, while Illinois is 39th in the country.

“I understand how he wants to play, he understands how we want to play,” Hambly said.

Wednesday will be the fourth match up between the two since McCutcheon joined the Golden Gophers. McCutcheon, three years Hambly’s senior, holds a 3-0 record against the Illini.

Stephen can be reached at [email protected] and on Twitter @steve_bourbon.