Ryan Theis rewarded after leading Marquette volleyball to its best season
Ben Steele
Ryan Theis was rewarded after leading the Marquette volleyball team to one of the best seasons in program history.
MU announced Monday that the head coach has signed a contract extension that runs through the 2028 season.
Theis just finished his ninth season with the Golden Eagles and is 212-67 at the school. He previously coached for six seasons at Ohio, and Theis' 355-12 record puts him among the top active coaches in winning percentage (.746).
"Marquette volleyball has so many exciting things currently happening and on the horizon that I'm excited to be a part of," Theis said in a statement.
More:Marquette and Wisconsin will play first volleyball match at Fiserv Forum next September
The Golden Eagles won a program-best 29 games this season, reaching the Sweet 16 before falling to eventual national champion Texas. MU also reached the Sweet 16 in 2018, hosting first- and second-round matches at the Al McGuire Center both years.
MU has reached the NCAA tournament eight times under Theis, missing it in 2020 when the field was limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Golden Eagles have also shared the Big East title the past two seasons.
"We are very happy that Ryan and his family have chosen to build on the tremendous momentum within the Marquette women's volleyball program," MU athletic director Bill Scholl said in a statement. "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."
Next season, MU will host Wisconsin, another volleyball powerhouse, on Sept. 13 at Fiserv Forum. Theis, a Madison native who attended UW-Milwaukee, said the teams will try to get more than 17,000 fans in the building for that match.
"It is an opportunity to showcase the volleyball community in the state and the amazing support our two programs receive," Theis said when the match was announced. "Hopefully one day we'll be able to host a Final Four ourselves at Fiserv Forum."