Crucian Coach Guides the University of Tampa to Fourth National Volleyball Championship

Coaching in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is one of those prestigious jobs that any individual in the coaching profession treasures if given the opportunity. The pressure to do well is constantly present as the length of a coach’s tenure is usually directly affected by their team’s performance.

Often times it is hard to find coaches who remain at one school for an extended period of time because if they do poorly, they are let go, and conversely, if they do well, it opens doors to bigger and better opportunities.

But much like fellow Crucian Tim Duncan, St. Croix native Chris Catanach has remained true to the University of Tampa, and the school has supported his efforts for almost 40 years. At the start of the 2021 volleyball season, Coach Catanach entered his 38th year at the helm of the Spartan’s program. The year ended with the University of Tampa Spartans winning their fourth National Division II Volleyball Championship, the second in three years.

“This is my first group that has now won a second championship. I had six players on this team that won it in 2018, so I think they are one of my best groups in history,” said Coach Catanach. “I wouldn’t say they were my most talented, but they sure know how to win and how to be a great team. They have great chemistry.”

Coach Catanach grew up on St. Croix, attending St. Mary’s School, St. Joseph Catholic School, and Good Hope School. Chris started playing volleyball when his brother, who is ten years his senior, returned home from college in New Mexico and started a club program on St. Croix. This was when a love for the game was planted. Upon high school graduation, Chris attended Bethany College in Bethany, West Virginia, where he assisted the volleyball head coach in any way he could. While he was shagging balls and helping out with drills, that seed was being watered.

He then moved on to the University of Tampa. Once again, he got involved with their women’s volleyball program. The seed that was planted years earlier was started to sprout. Christ rose through the ranks of the Spartans volleyball program until he was offered the head coaching position in 1984. He is still going strong for thirty-eight years, over one thousand wins, 27 Sunshine State Conference Titles, 19 NCAA Southern Regional Championships, 12 NCAA Final Four appearances, and 4 National Titles later.