University of California, Santa Cruz Women's Volleyball

After a robust national search, we are excited to have selected Chad Koenegstein as the next Head Coach for Women's Volleyball here at UCSC Athletics.  Chad joins UCSC from DIII Colorado College, where he started as the assistant coach in 2018, and worked to assist them through what is their most successful stretch in program history, posting a .791 winning percentage during his time. In 2022 Chad was awarded the AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) Thirty Under 30 award, which honors up-and-coming volleyball coaching talent at all levels of the sport. During his time at Colorado College, he coached 8 All-Americans, and helped lead the team to three NCAA tournament appearances. Prior to Colorado College, Koenegstein worked at USA Volleyball in coaching education and began his collegiate coaching career at University of Colorado Colorado Springs in 2017. Born and raised in Chester, Illinois, Koenegstein earned a bachelors in elementary education from Murray State University, and is currently pursuing a masters in sport coaching through University of Denver. For the dog people out there, he comes to Santa Cruz with his two retired show dogs, Theo (GCHB) and Maz (CH) who are Portuguese Water Dogs.

About UC Santa Cruz: UC Santa Cruz is a high-academic Division III institution that prioritizes the student-athlete experience. Situated in the mountainous redwood forest and overlooking the Monterey Bay coastline, the campus offers a truly unique setting. Located in the vibrant beach town of Santa Cruz, the university serves approximately 20,000 undergraduates and offers over 70 majors, providing an exceptional environment for both academic and athletic growth. About Sam Wittert: A four-year starting setter at UC Santa Cruz, Sam played a pivotal role in leading the Banana Slugs to the 2019 NCAA Division III Men's Volleyball Tournament, where the team finished as National Runners-Up - the highest finish in program history. After graduating in 2021 with a Bachelors in Psychology, he began his coaching career in the Santa Cruz area working with high school and club programs. In 2023, Sam returned to UC Santa Cruz as part of the Womens Volleyball coaching staff and is now entering his third season with the program. Passionate about player development, Sam is excited to work with prospective student-athletes and looks forward to the 2025-26 season. Go Slugs!