Penn State women's volleyball coach Russ Rose retired Thursday after 43 years with the Nittany Lions' program and 1,330 career wins, the most in NCAA Division I history.
Rose led Penn State to seven NCAA titles and 41 NCAA tournament appearances. He won more than 85% of his matches, won at least 30 matches in a season, and coached four national players of the year and 112 All-Americans. The 2008 and 2009 teams went perfect in back-to-back seasons.
Penn State coach Russ Rose retired after leading his team to every NCAA women's volleyball tournament.
Rose will have an advisory role in the Penn State athletic department.
Rose has been the head coach of the Penn State women's volleyball program for the last 43 seasons. My time here has provided me and my family with many memories and relationships. I would like to thank the players, managers, and support staff for their dedication, as well as all of the assistants who helped shape the culture and success of the program.
Rose's teams won 106 NCAA tournament matches, the most of any team since the organization started sponsoring the sport in 1981. His teams won more than 20 matches in a season.
"He is one of the greatest coaches of all time because he did it his way and never deviated from it," said Oregon State coach Terry Liskevych, who also coached the U.S. women's national team. He has been a great help to the sport of volleyball. Russ leaves a legacy that goes beyond the volleyball court, and everyone wanted to emulate his program. Russ will go down as one of the greatest coaches of all time.
Rose has a long tree of former assistants who have gone on to lead top programs.
Sandy Barbour, Penn State athletic director, said, "We send our warmest greetings to Russ Rose on a phenomenal career at Penn State, and decades of tremendous impact on students, staff and community." He will be remembered for raising the profile of women's volleyball, not just at Penn State, but nationally.
Interim head coach will be assistant coach. Penn State will conduct a nationwide search to replace Rose.
