Chris Catanach Announces Retirement as Volleyball Coach

TAMPA, Fla. - Four-time NCAA Division II national champion Head Coach Chris Catanach has announced his retirement after 41 seasons in charge of the University of Tampa volleyball program.

"It is difficult to express how rewarding it has been to work and coach at the University of Tampa for the past 40-plus years," Catanach said. "I have enjoyed working alongside many wonderful administrators, athletic trainers, and coaches. I have learned many things from all of you that have helped me become a better coach and person.   

Words can't express my appreciation for Jeff Lamm and Brian Imperiale. They were my teammates in coaching. We made Tampa volleyball great together. To all of my players, past and present, thank you for the many amazing experiences we had together. Our championships together pale in comparison to the fond memories that I have of each of you. I am excited to watch the 2025 team as they continue UTVB's winning tradition. It is time for me to be a more present husband, father, and grandfather."

A native of the U.S. Virgin Islands and a graduate of the University of Tampa, Catanach was named the program's fourth head coach in 1984. Prior to becoming head coach, he worked for one year as an admissions representative for the University of Tampa.

He took over a program that was just five years old in 1984 and posted a 32-4 record in his first year as a coach. Two years later, his squad earned a school-record 41 victories. While signing some of the area's and state's top players, his recruiting philosophy is "to go where the players are," which has led him from California to the Caribbean. In addition to coaching volleyball, Catanach coached both the men's and women's tennis teams from 1984-1987. He also held the position of interim athletic director in 1989 and served as an assistant athletic director from 1998-2004 with NCAA compliance-related duties. Catanach is a member of the NCAA II Volleyball Committee and is a voter for the AVCA top 25.

After achieving a career record of 1,227-223, he is the program's all-time winningest coach. His career winning percentage of .846 ranks seventh all-time among all active coaches in Division I, II, and III. In 2006, he made history while guiding his Spartan squad to a 35-1 season and capturing the program's first NCAA II national championship with a 3-1 victory over North Alabama in the title game. He was also named National Coach of the Year, as four of his players were named All-Americans.

With Catanach at the helm, he helped guide the Spartans to four national championships in eight appearances, including a victory on home soil in 2021. In addition, he led Tampa to 20 NCAA South Region Championships and 28 Sunshine State Conference regular season titles.

On the way to the programs fourth National Championship during the 2021 season where they defeated Washburn University in the final at the Bob Martinez Center, he coached five Spartans who were selected for the AVCA and D2CCA All-South Region teams, including Taylor Fosler, who finished the season as the NCAA Division II statistical champion in hitting percentage. After being named AVCA Division II National Coach of the Year for the fifth time, Catanach was nominated as the 2021 SSC Coach of the Year, becoming the first coach to have the most SSC Coach of the Year awards in a single sport. 

"Chris will be missed dearly," University of Tampa Athletics Director Larry Marfise said. "He is the best coach I've ever been around, hands down, and is the most well-rounded. He put in countless hours and cared so much about his players. He was a phenomenal coach and set a standard like no one else. He has had a positive influence on the student-athletes he coached, and his accomplishments are not limited to just the court. His teams were successful in the classroom, and he helped prepare them for life".

Catanach helped Tampa to produce numerous individual accolades, including two AVCA Division II National Players of the Year, 83 AVCA All-Americans, which currently ranks the most among all Division II schools, 12 CSC/CoSIDA All-Americans, and one CSC/CoSIDA Academic All-America of the Year.

"Coach Catanach is a true legend who built this program into one of the most respected and successful in the country," Associate Head Coach Brian Imperiale stated. "It has been an incredible honor to coach alongside and learn from him over the past 11 years, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity he gave me to be part of this team. While his records and accomplishments speak volumes, it's the lasting impact he's had on the lives of the student-athletes that truly defines his legacy. Watching the way he has shaped and inspired generations of players has been nothing short of remarkable. His influence also reaches far beyond our team — he has shaped the volleyball community throughout Tampa and inspired countless players and coaches along the way."

In 1991, Catanach became the first volleyball coach in the Sunshine State Conference to earn National Coach of the Year honors. In 1993, he was inducted into the Sunshine State Conference Hall of Fame while also being a member of the UT Hall of Fame Class of 2002.

Catanach was a five-time AVCA National Coach of the Year and an 18-time AVCA South Region Coach of the Year. In 2022, he was honored as the 2023 recipient of the Lee Roy Selmon Lifetime Achievement Award, which is only given to those individuals who demonstrate a lifetime's worth of incredible support for the Tampa Bay sports community.

"It was an honor to learn from and work with Chris for over 24 years. He is one of the greatest coaches and people I know. The University of Tampa will miss him on and off the court", Beach Volleyball Head Coach and former Volleyball Assistant Coach Jeff Lamm said.

At the time of his retirement, his 1,227 career wins ranked second all-time amongst all active coaches in NCAA divisions.

"We wish him all the best in the next phase of his life. He truly deserves the opportunity to spend his time with his wife, family, and grandchild", Marfise said.