Mahwah, NJ: Interim Director of Athletics, Jan Koslowsky, announced today the departure of Head Women's Volleyball Coach, Rob Pichardo, after 18 years of service on the Mahwah campus.
"We are very thankful for all of Rob's contributions to the women's volleyball program as well as the athletic department. We wish him the best as he moves on to his next chapter," Koslowsky stated.
Pichardo wrapped up his 18th season with the women's volleyball program as he led the Lady Roadrunners to 15 NJAC Tournament appearances, including five championship matches and five semi-final matches. He also earned six ECAC tournament bids and one ECAC Tournament Title. Pichardo led the Roadrunners to the program's first and only NCAA berth during the 2016 season as he held an impeccable career coaching record of 408-231 in women's volleyball, along with an overall record in men's volleyball of 100-47, (508-278 combined). At Ramapo he finished standing at 208-187 overall.
In late August 2005, Pichardo took over the women's volleyball program that stood at 69-123 overall in its previous seven seasons. His program has posted numerous school historic records with three #2 seeds in conference playoffs, as well as six ECAC Tournaments invitations. Including the 2015 ECAC Metro/Upstate Women's Championship Title, to a perfect 8-0 NJAC Regular Season Conference Championship. He was also named 2016 NJAC Coach of the Year, while holding a #1 seed in conference and earning a historic At Large Bid to the 2016 NCAA Regional Championship.
Prior to Ramapo, Pichardo coached at CCNY, where the men's and women's volleyball programs compiled a record of 183-110 during a six-year stint. He guided the men's team to the NECVA Championship Tournament in four consecutive years and led the team to an 83-66 overall record. He captured a CUNYAC conference title in his first year (2000), one NECVA title, and one ECAC title in 2002. The team was also ranked as high as 6th in the National AVCA Division III Coaches poll. Furthermore, while at CCNY he guided the women's program compiling a record of 100-44 in his six seasons, also shaping the Beavers from an .500 program to two NCAA's Automatic berths and CUNY Conference Titles. ('03, '04).
In 2011, Coach Pichardo was a recipient of the AVCA "300 Victory Club" award after earning 300 or more collegiate career victories. He is also a fellow member of the same association as well as USA Volleyball. Internationally, he guided a CUNYAC collegiate selection team to Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2005, and coached the 6th Region Dominican Selection Team on three different occasions at the Dominican National Games in '96, '00, and '06. Pichardo was a setter/outside hitter for the CCNY program for four years and was a two-year captain. He's formerly the founder and president of the Dominican Volleyball Association in the U.S.A. but continues to represent the Dominican Volleyball Federation away from the continental USA.
Outside Collegiate Volleyball, Pichardo is the Founder/Executive Director of
Pinnacle Volleyball Academy Inc. A well respected and established junior travel Volleyball club. Prior to that, he was the Co-Club Director at nearby DIGS Volleyball Cub.
His collegiate debut started in 1994 as a head coach for Cooper Union College, also at DeWitt Clinton H.S. in '97, as well as Monroe Community College in '97 and Yeshiva University Men's team in '98. Pichardo is also a member of the Dominican Volleyball Federation. He holds a FIVB Level 1 International Coaching Accreditation License, High Performance Clinician, USA IMPACT and a USA Volleyball CAP Level II, currently working on his Level III.
He is a U.S. NAVY veteran, and holds a Bachelor's of Science in Health & Physical Education degree from CCNY as well as an Urban and Multicultural Education Master's Degree from the College of Mt. St. Vincent. Pichardo is a member of AVCA American Volleyball Coaches Association. He resides in West Nyack, NY in the County of Rockland with his wife Maria, and their daughters Ashley (Ramapo '21) and Tamara who is currently a member of the nearby Div. 1 Iona Gaels women's volleyball team, '24.
- Coach Rob is a recipient of the AVCA "400 Victory Club".
- 508 NCAA Career Wins (women's & men's combined)
- 8x Coach of the Year
- 3x NCAA Appearances
- 6x ECAC Appearances
- 2x ECAC Titles
- FIVB Level I International Coaching Accreditation License
- USA Volleyball Coaches Accreditation Program
- CAP Level II USA Volleyball High Performance
- College Hall of Famer (CCNY inductee '13)