University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss Hires Ricci Luyties as Volleyball Coach
4/13/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Southern Miss Hires Ricci Luyties as Volleyball Coach
Ricci Luyties becomes the eighth head volleyball coach at Southern Miss |
HATTIESBURG, Miss.
? Southern Miss Director of Athletics Richard Giannini has announced the hiring of Ricci Luyties as the school?s eighth volleyball coach today. His appointment is subject to approval of the IHL Board.Luyties (pronounced LOOT-ease) served as an assistant coach at the University of Colorado for the past three seasons where he coached the right and left sides for the Buffaloes. During his tenure at Colorado, the Buffs played in the NCAA Tournament two of the last three seasons.
"I?m excited about coming to Southern Miss and building on what Santiago (Restrepo) started last year," Luyties said. "I know the team lost a few players, but I think the talent is there for the younger players. There are a lot of physical women who are good athletes, and I?m excited about working with them."
Prior to Colorado, Luyties was the head coach of the La Jolla (Calif.) High School boys and girls varsity and junior varsity programs. He was also the head coach of the Coast Volleyball Club Girls 16?s team. He has coached preps for the Wind ?N Sea Volleyball Club (1998-99) and the San Diego Volleyball boys 17?s and Girls 15?s and 16?s Club (1995-98).
Luyties replaces Santiago Restrepo, who resigned after three seasons as the Southern Miss coach. He brings an impressive resume of playing experience on both the collegiate and the professional levels that included wins in seven pro beach volleyball events. He played regularly on both the AVP and FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tours since 1989. Luyties? professional career spanned more than 12 years and included titles with Karch Kiraly, one of the top players in professional beach volleyball history. He also teamed with Adam Johnson to pick up the 1991 U.S. Championship.
"Coach Luyties will provide an additional spark for our women?s volleyball program, allowing us to build on the success in recent years and taking our program to the next level," Associate Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator Sonya Varnell said. "He is an excellent recruiter, and because of his national and international status as an All-American and Olympic Gold Medalist, he will have access to recruits that we, in the past, haven?t had access to."
Luyties also has enjoyed success in the world championship level, winning Olympic Gold with the USA National team in 1988, playing alongside Kiraly, Steve Timmons and Troy Tanner. He also won gold as a member of 1983 U.S. National Team in the Pan American Games.
"I was pleasantly surprised with the town on my visit," Luyties said. "I think Hattiesburg will be a great place for my family. I really like the town, and I?m excited about coming here."
A1985 graduate of UCLA, Luyties was one of the most decorated setters in the NCAA history. He was inducted into the Bruins? Hall of Fame in 1995 where he was a member of the men?s volleyball team that won four NCAA Division I Men?s Volleyball titles from 1981-84, two undefeated seasons, a 126-7 career record and four all-conference selections.
He was a two-time All-American and a two-time NCAA Most Valuable Player, earning those honors in 1983 and 1984. Luyties was the first men?s player in the NCAA history to earn back-to-back Player of the Year honors. His jersey (No. 11) was retired a year after his Hall of Fame induction. He received a bachelor?s degree in economics in 1985.
Luyties is married to the former Lorrie Remus and the couple has two children, Chloe (5) and Lia (1).
