No university wants to replace a head coach, especially one as successful as Alan Knipe. But if you have to, it’s nice to also have a long-time assistant waiting in the wings.
That’s exactly what athletics director Vic Cegles has in long-time Long Beach State assistant coach Andy Read. The former UC Irvine head coach will serve as interim head coach and lead the men’s volleyball program while Alan Knipe serves as the USA National Team head coach through the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England.
“Being the head coach at Long Beach State is the coaching opportunity of a lifetime,” said Read, who spent the last 13 seasons as an assistant under Knipe. “There is no better place for men’s volleyball than right here. A university that supports its athletes in every way possible, a local fan community that adopts the team as its own, an active volleyball alumni who are always in our corner and a group of athletes who want to train to be the best, as true 49ers.”
Read’s connection with Long Beach State began when he was the head coach of the Marina High School boy’s team from 1988-89, where he coached Knipe.
Aside from his coaching duties, Read will continue to serve as a science teacher at Westminster High School in Westminster. He is a 1981 graduate of Biola University with a degree in biological science.
“I would like to thank Alan Knipe and the athletic administration for their confidence in me to guide this program for the next three years during Alan’s time with USA Volleyball… It is time to mount up and leave no doubt.”
“Andy is the right guy to fill in for Alan,” Cegles said. “He understands the program, he knows the kids and he is a highly respected coach. Under Andy’s guidance the program will continue to flourish.”
Working primarily with the setters as an assistant at LBSU, Read tutored former 49er Chris Seiffert, a three-time All-American and starter on the United States National Team, and Tyler Hildebrand, also a three-time All-American.
Here are some other Read coaching accomplishments…
– Coached several USA Developmental Teams including seven players from last summer’s Gold Medal USA Olympic Team.
– Head coach of the Boy’s Youth National Team last summer. Lead them to the title at the NORCECA Championships in Miami, Fla. Read will coach the same group at the Boy’s Youth World Championships in Italy this summer.
– Coached the USA Men’s Junior National Team in 2006, lead them to a second-place finish at NORCECA and a berth in the Men’s Junior World Championships in Morocco.
– Served as scout and consultant for the USA Men’s National Team in several international tournaments, worked with the USA Men’s National Team in Colorado and Texas in 2005, and most recently the 2006 World Championships in Japan.
– January 2005; was named the USA Development Coach of the Year after serving as head coach of the USA Boy’s Youth National Team that earned a gold medal at the NORCECA Youth Championships in Mexico City.
– World University Games in Korea, 2004; Helped lead 49er teammates David Lee, Scott Touzinsky, Tyler Hildebrand and others to a bronze medal in a 3-2 victory over France in the medal round.
– Read also spent time as an advisor to the U.S. Men’s Volleyball National team that competed in Mexico for a qualifying spot in the 2004 Olympics in Greece. On that squad were former 49ers Tom Hoff, Jim Polster, and David McKienzie.
– Served as the head coach for the U.S. Junior National Team which traveled to Brazil. Former 49ers Touzinsky and Jeff Wootton were members of that U.S. squad.
– Prior to UC Irvine, Read was an assistant coach at Pepperdine from 1990-92. In his final year at Pepperdine, the Waves captured the 1992 NCAA National Championship.
From Reports By LBSU