Legendary Penn State coach Russ Rose announces retirement after 43 years. Here’s what he said
Legendary and longtime Penn State women’s volleyball coach Russ Rose announced his retirement Thursday, capping one of the greatest coaching careers the sport has ever seen.
In 43 years of coaching, Rose racked up a national record 1,330 Division I wins — in addition to seven national titles, 25 conference championships and 41 NCAA tournament berths. His resume is as long as it is impressive: His Nittany Lions teams have been ranked for 503 consecutive polls, dating back to 1989, and only two programs — not coaches, programs (Nebraska, Stanford) — have recorded more than Rose’s 106 NCAA tournament wins.
According to the university, Rose will remain in an advisory role with the Penn State athletics department. Katie Schumacher-Cawley will serve as interim head coach while Penn State opens a national search for its next head coach.
Penn State’s 2021 season ended after a second-round exit in the NCAA tournament Dec. 4, following a 3-1 loss to Pitt. Rose was 41-0 all-time in the first round of the tournament.
“While I have decided to step into retirement, it has been my pleasure to serve as the head coach of the Penn State women’s volleyball program over the last 43 seasons,” Rose said in a written statement. “My time here has provided my family and I many memories and relationships that we will carry with us. I would like to thank the many players, managers and support staff for their dedication, in addition to all of the assistants who helped shape the culture and success of the program.
“I would also like to express my appreciation to Penn State’s administration over the years, from the President’s Office, to the Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics and multiple athletic directors and senior woman administrators who have been responsible for our program and allowed our many players over the last 43 years the opportunity to reach for the stars, both on the court and in the classroom. Also, I cannot say enough about the support of the community and the Booster Club, who have been a true blessing. I wish nothing but the best for the future of the program.”
Penn State Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Sandy Barbour has overseen Rose’s success since 2014, when she was named the university’s athletic director. During that period, Rose has won Big Ten Coach of the Year twice (2017 and 2019), won a Big Ten Championship in 2017 and a national championship in 2014.
“It’s difficult to appropriately capture our appreciation for Russ Rose and his service to our students, Penn State and our women’s volleyball program,” Barbour wrote in a statement. “We send our heartfelt congratulations to Russ Rose on a phenomenal career at Penn State, and decades of tremendous impact on students, staff and community.”
Barbour pointed to more of his accomplishments, including four consecutive NCAA Championships and 109-straight wins from 2007-10.
“He has been a mainstay of our community for more than four decades and will long be remembered for raising the profile of women’s volleyball, not just at Penn State but nationally. His legacy will live on through the hundreds of student-athletes who recount what a positive influence he has been on their lives, long after graduation,” she wrote.
Rose’s student-athletes have earned accolades including 112 AVCA All-America honors, four AVCA National Players of the Year and 14 Big Ten Conference Players of the Year.
Fellow coaches — including from rival teams — athletes, community members and others took to social media following Thursday’s announcement to thank Rose and congratulate him on a well-earned retirement.
“No doubt many will comment on what he meant to the game, but to those of us in Rec Hall he was simply the best,” Penn State men’s volleyball coach Mark Pavlik wrote in a statement tweeted by the team.
Kyle J. Andrews contributed to this report
This story was originally published December 23, 2021 at 11:45 AM.
