AVCA NAIA Men’s Coach of the Year
TOM RYAN, ST. XAVIER UNIVERSITY
- Ryan, who is in his sixth season as the men’s volleyball coach at his alma mater, picks up his first National Coach of the Year award.
- His team is a perfect 28-0, which is the longest win streak in program history, and it enters the 2025 NAIA Championship as the No. 2 seed.
- The Cougars have made the NAIA tourney every year Ryan has been the coach, except for 2020 when the event was cancelled.
- Ryan has recruited and coached 11 players who have earned AVCA first- or second-team All-America honors, including a program-best six this season.
- His career record at St. Xavier is 131-37 heading into this week’s NAIA Championship.
bio information current as of April 26, 2025
AVCA NAIA Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year
RICARDO GEHRKE, LAWRENCE TECHOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
- Gehrke is finishing up his second season as an assistant coach with the Lawrence Tech men’s volleyball team.
- He helped the team to a perfect 16-0 conference record, and they have been ranked as high as No. 3 in the NAIA Poll.
- The Blue Devils opened the season by winning their first 13 matches, and they enter the 2025 NAIA National Championship with a 26-2 record as the No. 3 seed.
- Gehrke helped two players from this year’s squad earn AVCA NAIA first-team or second-team All-America honors, marking the first time the program has had AVCA All-Americans.
- He works with many areas of the program including game plans, player development, film sessions, and academics.
bio information current as of April 26, 2025
AVCA NAIA MEN’S COACHES OF THE YEAR
2010: Ryan McGuyre, California Baptist University
2011: Bill Gleeson, St. Ambrose University
2012: Mike Talamantes, Park University
2013: Trevor Johnson, Concordia University-Irvine
2014: Donan Cruz, Grand View University
2015: Donan Cruz, Grand View University
2016: John Yehling, Missouri Baptist University
2017: Donan Cruz, Grand View University
2018: Dan Mathews, Cardinal Stritch University
2019: Tom Young, Missouri Baptist University
2020: Eric Snyder, Campbellsville University
2021: Donan Cruz, Grand View University
2022: Kyle Shondell, Indiana Institute of Technology
2023: Taylor Stallman, Benedictine Mesa University (AZ)
2024: Jared Goldberg, The Master’s University
2025: Tom Ryan, St. Xavier University
AVCA NAIA MEN’S ASSISTANT COACHES OF THE YEAR
2017: Tom Sorensen, Ottawa (AZ)
2018: Tom Sorensen, Ottawa (AZ)
2019: Thadeus Niemira, Menlo College
2021: Will Dowdy, Indiana Institute of Technology
2022: Wellington Afusia, Ottawa (AZ)
2023: Dillon Dahl, Dordt University
2024: Wellington Afusia, Ottawa (AZ)
2025: Ricardo Gehrke, Lawrence Technological University