By Sofia McGinnis
TAMPA, Fla. — Chris Catanach, University of Tampa head volleyball coach, announces his retirement after 41 seasons of coaching at UTampa.
Coach Cantanch took over the volleyball program in 1984, which at the time was only five years old. Two years later, his volleyball team earned a school-record of 41 victories in a season.
Chris Catanach reminisced about the years spent at UTampa.
“I started here in 1970 as a student. [Then] I spent a year in admissions, and then I started [coaching, and] I’ve been coaching for 41 years,” said Catanach to The Minaret.
He has truly made an impact at UTampa. Canatanch held the position of head coach of the men’s and women’s tennis teams from 1984 to 1987, alongside coaching volleyball.
He also held the position of interim athletic director for UTampa in 1989, as well as serving as an assistant athletic director with NCAA compliance-related duties from 1998 to 2004.
Tampaspartans.com said, “While signing some of the area’s and state’s top players, his recruiting philosophy is ‘to go where the players are.’”
“I’ve had over 200 players,” said Canatch during the interview. “That’s really the highlight when I look back, and I was really blessed to have an opportunity to work with so many young women that just filled my life with [so many] good things.”
Cantanach has helped several players over the years and has been able to produce many individual accolades for UTampa.
According to tampaspartans.com, “[He’s produced] 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.”
The University of Tampa athletics director, Larry Marfise, expresses his gratitude for Catanach.
According to tampaspartans.com, “Chris will be missed dearly. 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,” said Marfise on tampaspartans.com. “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.”
Brian Imperiale, the associate head coach of the volleyball team, will be taking over for Canatch after his retirement.
“Coach Catanach is a true legend who built this program into one of the most respected and successful in the country,” said Imperiale on tampaspartans.com. “It has been an incredible honor to coach alongside and learn from him over the past 11 years.”
Imperiale, who has been a part of the UTampa volleyball program for ten seasons, is proud to have worked alongside Catanach.
“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,” said Imperiale on tampaspartans.com. “Watching the way he has shaped and inspired generations of players has been nothing short of remarkable.”
While Imperiale takes over the volleyball program, Catanach said he plans to spend more time with his family.
“It just seemed like it’s time for me to be a bit more of a present parent and husband, and now I’m a grandfather, so I want to be involved in that,” said Catanach.
Catanach offers his last bit of advice for any incoming student-athletes: “Find things that you’re passionate about and pursue them, [and] you can’t say it enough, [but] don’t follow the money, follow the passion.”
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Photo courtesy of tampaspartans.com.