Ryan Theis signs extension at Marquette

MILWAUKEE – Marquette University head women's volleyball coach Ryan Theis has signed a contract extension through the 2028 season, MU Vice President and Athletics Director Bill Scholl announced on Monday.

"We are very happy that Ryan and his family have chosen to build on the tremendous momentum within the Marquette women's volleyball program," Scholl said. "At a time when the sport is seeing increased popularity and visibility, Ryan has pushed Marquette into the national conversation. His teams are high achieving, both on the court and in the classroom, and we look forward to what's to come for the program with Ryan leading it."

Theis was named the fifth head women's volleyball coach in Marquette history in early 2014 and the 2023 campaign will mark his 10th with the program.

"Marquette volleyball has so many exciting things currently happening and on the horizon that I'm excited to be a part of," Theis said. "Thanks to Bill Scholl, President (Dr. Michael) Lovell, (Executive Vice President and COO) Joel Pogodzinski and (Executive Associate Athletics Director) Danielle Josetti for helping our program be successful and allowing me to lead it."

Theis (pronounced TICE) is in the top 15 among active NCAA Division I head coaches in winning percentage (.746; 355-121 career record) and has a 212-67 record at Marquette. In his 15 years as a head coach he has never had fewer than 21 wins in a full season, with a career-best 29 victories in 2022. He also led Marquette to 28-win seasons in both 2018 and 2019 and trips to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2018 and 2022.

Theis holds the highest winning percentage among head coaches in MU history (.760) and has guided Marquette to NCAA appearances in all eight of his full seasons in Milwaukee. Over the past five years, the Golden Eagles rank among the nation's very best in both total wins (121) and winning percentage (.818) and have averaged nearly 28 wins over the last four full seasons.

The Golden Eagles made their second trip to the NCAA regional semifinals in 2022 by sweeping then-No. 13 Georgia Tech in the NCAA Second Round at the Al McGuire Center and ended the year a program-best 13th in the final AVCA Coaches Poll. In total, MU went 29-4 in 2022 and its only losses came at BIG EAST rival Creighton (twice), at then-No. 6 Wisconsin and to No. 1 and eventual national champion Texas in the Sweet 16.

The Golden Eagles earned the top seed in the BIG EAST Championship with a sweep of then No. 11 Creighton on Nov. 19 to claim a share of their second BIG EAST regular season crown in as many years.

MU's success in 2022 came with seven newcomers on the roster and an entirely new coaching staff. The Golden Eagles returned less than a third of their 2021 totals in most statistical categories, but ended the season with one of the nation's top-10 offenses, ranking among the national leaders in kills (sixth), hitting percentage (10th) and assists (ninth).

Theis at MU - By the Numbers:
2 - BIG EAST regular season championships
2 - NCAA Sweet 16 appearances
8 - trips to the NCAA tournament
7 - players have earned 10 AVCA All-America honors
19 - players have earned 32 All-BIG EAST honors
5 - AVCA Team Academic Awards

THEIS HEAD COACHING RECORD AT MARQUETTE:

Year	Team	Overall	Pct.	Conf.	Pct.	Notes
2014	Marquette	24-9	0.727	14-4	0.778	NCAA First Round
2015	Marquette	22-12	0.647	12-6	0.667	NCAA Second Round
2016	Marquette	23-9	0.719	13-5	0.722	NCAA First Round
2017	Marquette	22-10	0.688	15-3	0.833	NCAA First Round, BIG EAST Coach of the Year
2018	Marquette	28-7	0.800	15-2	0.882	NCAA Sweet 16
2019	Marquette	28-6	0.824	16-2	0.889	NCAA Second Round
2020-21	Marquette	10-4	0.714	4-2	0.667
2021	Marquette*	26-6	0.813	16-2	0.889	NCAA First Round
2022	Marquette*	29-4	0.879	17-1	0.944	NCAA Sweet 16
15 YEARS	TOTAL	355-121	0.746	199-44	0.819
9 YEARS	MARQUETTE	212-67	0.760	122-27	0.819	BIG EAST

*- Conference Regular Season Championship

Keep up with the Marquette University women's volleyball program through social media by following on Twitter (@MarquetteVB) and Instagram (@MarquetteVB) and 'liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteVolleyball).

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