New volleyball coach Chris Gonzalez set to bring change

With progress comes change, and new volleyball coach Chris Gonzalez is set to bring it. 

After former head volleyball coach Debbie Buchanan retired last November, the job search was on for the new head coach. University of Idaho’s Athletic Director Terry Gawlik was set on finding the right coach with the right qualities.  

“We want someone who can connect with student athletes,” Gawlik said. “…someone with knowledge and experience at a high level. And then someone who, quite frankly, has experience winning.” 

After attending the NCAA women’s volleyball semifinals in Columbus, Ohio, Gawlik had been pre-interviewing some of the candidates for the new head coach job. She mentioned that after meeting Chris Gonzalez, not only was there a connection, but there was also nothing but praise on his behalf. 

“We did recon on him as a search committee,” Gawlik stated. “…everybody that talked to anybody spoke very highly of him”. She spoke further on her admiration for his experience from coaching AAU to several conferences in the NCAA, to also coaching internationally both in Europe and Japan. The quality Gawlik was perhaps the most keen on was his ability to dissect the game. 

“He’s really analytical,” Gawlik said. “The head coach at Wisconsin who I hired, just won the National Championship for volleyball, and he used Chris as an analyst to break down practice film and opponent film. That’s the level that Chris is at.” On Feb. 9 2022, Chris Gonzalez was named the new University of Idaho’s head women’s volleyball coach. 

Settling into a new location can prove to be difficult for many, but the determination and excitement that Gonzalez has for the program accompanied by the open arms of the university and staff have proved to provide ease. 

“The transition has been fairly seamless,” Gonzalez said. “The administrative assistance from compliance, to facilities, to equipment have been extremely helpful.” Gonzalez mentioned how although he had only been at the university for a few weeks, he could already feel the sense of pride within the athletic department.  

Whether it is how inquisitive and hard working his current players are or how he is able to work with an athletic director who has had extreme success with volleyball in her career. Gonzalez has plenty to be excited about. What Gonzalez is most looking forward to however, is the potential to build something special. 

“The potential to build a program that can contend for a Big Sky championship is very well within the realm of possibility,” said Gonzalez. He noted that factors like the support that the university gets as well as the ability to recruit top athletes continue to grow his excitement. 

There are several qualities that Gonzalez is looking to establish for the future of the team. He mentioned that being motivated is a key necessity. The will to want to be great in volleyball, school and anything his athletes pursue is crucial to success. He also mentioned the importance of attention to detail and understanding the game. The quality he is the most set on developing for the team is a strong sense of competition. 

“I want people that just want to compete,” Gonzalez said. “Be prideful in terms of the people you are competing for, like the university and the community. 

Gonzalez’s extensive coaching background, brilliant analytical capabilities, and clear excitement for development looks to be a great sign for the future of the volleyball team and the university.