Kasey Crider was tabbed to lead the two-time defending America East champion UMBC Volleyball program by Director of Athletics Brian Barrio on February 14, 2022.
Crider, who most recently served as the associate head coach at Miami (Fla.), will begin his tenure effective immediately.
"Since I was 16 years old, I've never wavered from the dream of becoming a head coach at a successful NCAA program. To do so here at UMBC is an opportunity for which I'm so grateful," said Crider. "Endless thanks to Brian Barrio, [Associate AD] Tom Mandato and the entire search committee for inviting me into the department and the lives of these student-athletes. By the end of the interview process, I felt cared for, aligned, and inspired to do whatever I could to help the program and department continue its upward pursuit of even greater heights."
"UMBC has set the standard for America East women's volleyball over the past few years and we are confident that Kasey Crider will be the right coach to not only continue that standard of excellence, but move the bar higher," said Barrio. "Kasey is a person of great character, tremendous experience, and will bring the energy and passion needed to lead the Retrievers to new heights."
Crider joined the Miami volleyball coaching staff in March 2015.
In Crider's seventh season on staff, Miami made its return to the postseason for the first time since 2017. The Canes advanced to the second round in the Gainesville Regional, ultimately falling to site host Florida. This marked the program's second appearance in the second round with Crider's assistance. UM finished the season 25-5 overall and 15-3 in conference play, both program bests with Crider, with 15 of those wins coming by way of sweep. The 25 wins is the most in a season since 2012 when Miami finished with 26.
After finishing second in the ACC, a program best, the Hurricanes capped the season ranked 14th in the RPI and 25th in the AVCA Division I Coaches Poll. Three Canes -- Savannah Vach, Janice Leao and Angela Grieve -- earned AVCA East Coast All-Region Honors. Vach and Leao were tabbed all-region, while Grieve was an all-region honorable mention. Adding to the list of success in 2022 with Crider's guidance, Leao also garnered AVCA All-American Honorable Mention.
Vach earned All-ACC First Team in 2022, while Grieve, Leao and Priscilla Hernandez were named All-ACC Second Team. In her first year as a Cane, Peyman Yardimci claimed a spot on the All-ACC Freshman Team with the help of Crider. Miami also found success in the classroom as Grieve, Yardimci and Hernandez were all named to the ACC All-Academic Team.
Crider assisted UM in becoming one of the top blocking teams in the nation. The Hurricanes ranked 16th in the NCAA with 2.65 blocks per set and 32nd with 284 total blocks. Among ACC teams, Miami ranked near the top of the conference in several categories at the end of the regular season with the help of Crider. The Canes were sixth in hitting percentage (.244), second in opponent hitting percentage (.188), fifth in assists per set (12.51), third in total blocks (271) and blocks per set (2.63), second in digs per set (15.23) and fifth in total digs (1569).
Miami returned to the NCAA Championship in 2017 for the ninth time in program history. Miami won its first postseason match since 2014, defeating the College of Charleston in the opening round of the tournament in Gainesville, Fla. The Canes fell to No. 2 Florida in four sets in an exciting second round matchup to close the season 22-6 and finish with their best winning percentage since 2012.
Following the 2015 season, Crider was honored as an AVCA Thirty Under 30 Award recipient. The award was created in 2009 to honor up-and-coming coaching talent at all levels of the sport.
Crider came to Miami after spending two seasons as a volunteer assistant with the Stanford women's volleyball program. In 2014, Crider helped the Cardinal win the Pac-12 Championships and earn the No. 1 overall seed in the 2014 NCAA Tournament. Stanford went 33-2 that season, reaching the semifinals of the 2014 NCAA Tournament before falling to eventual national champion Penn State.
Prior to his time at Stanford, Crider spent the 2012-13 season as a volunteer assistant coach for the men's volleyball team at Pepperdine. Crider played for the Waves from 2008-11 and was a two-time All-American, ending his career ranked second in program history in assists (3,989).
Following his collegiate career, Crider played professionally overseas during the 2011-12 season for Boldklubben Marienlyst, located in Denmark. There he led the squad to first-place finishes in both the Nordic Cup and Danish Pokal Cup Championships. He was named the Danish Super League Player of the Year, while also earning the Best Setter Award and was picked as MVP of the Danish Pokal Cup Championship.
A native of Granite Bay, Calif. Crider graduated from Pepperdine with a degree in journalism in 2011. He earned his Master of Arts in Latin American Studies from Miami in 2021.
"The first and eternal task is learning how to best serve the young people in our program in becoming the types of students, players, and people they want to be," Crider said. "They deserve the best possible experience we can facilitate for them, and in return, I'm confident that they'll achieve incredible things in and out of sport. I couldn't be more excited to earn their respect and share this incredible time in their lives with them"
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT COACH CRIDER:
""Kasey Crider was born to coach. He has a wonderful working knowledge of teaching in our sport. In addition, he is fabulous with people. This is a great hire by UMBC."
Dr. Marv Dunphy, 4x Hall of Fame Volleyball Coach and FIVB's Greatest Coach of the Century Award Winner
"In listening to and conversing with Kasey, it is apparent that he is intensely curious and intellectually driven to become the best coach he is capable of becoming. I have been a head coach for quite some time, but reached out to Kasey because he is openly engaging in broad conversations about how coaches can better serve and teach their athletes. He was a resource for me and I am grateful for his counsel. UMBC is gaining a coach who will be a great representative of their university, a wonderful coach for the women who play there and a leader who will constantly push himself to be better tomorrow than he was today."
John Speraw, Head Coach, USA Men's National Team and UCLA Men's Volleyball
"I'm extremely excited for Kasey and grateful for his time at the University of Miami. He has been instrumental in the development of our players and the growth of our program. I have really enjoyed working with him. Kasey is a great coach but an even better person and friend. He cares about his players and values those relationships. He loves coaching and values his role as a leader and mentor. He is a student of the game and is infatuated with teaching, learning, and creating the most productive environment for his athletes to be successful. I wish Kasey the best and am excited to follow as his career as a head coach takes-off. I believe the future of UMBC volleyball is in great hands."
Jose "Keno" Gandara, Head Coach, University of Miami Women's Volleyball
""Kasey is a well-regarded coach in the volleyball community and I believe UMBC has made a strong hire. He has been successful both as a player and assistant and I have no doubt that he will do that same as a head coach. Kasey is a hard worker and a high character person but what sets him apart is his curiosity. He consistently seeks out ways to improve his craft staying at the forefront of our sport. I wish him and Retriever Nation all the best in this new partnership."
Dan Fisher, Head Coach, University of Pittsburgh Women's Volleyball
"Kasey has always had a passion for the game. Whether it was his time here as a player, or as he was just starting his coaching journey, he has always loved volleyball. Kasey had an opportunity to learn from Marv Dunphy, the best to ever coach the game of volleyball. Since then, he has continued to learn from some of the best minds in the sport. UMBC is getting someone who cares about people first and foremost, who is driven to teach the game, and who is committed to doing it the right way."
David Hunt, Head Coach, Pepperdine Men's Volleyball
