STOCKTON, Calif. - University of the Pacific is bringing back men's volleyball with the help of the USA Volleyball Foundation, becoming the 20th sport in the Tigers' growing constellation of NCAA Division I programs.

Men's volleyball will start competing at the Alex G. Spanos Center in spring 2027, 13 years after the sport was eliminated at Pacific following 21 years of competition under Head Coach Joe Wortmann.

"Pacific men's volleyball has a proud legacy, and it's fantastic and appropriate to see the program return," said U.S. Men's National Team Head Coach Karch Kiraly. "While Southern California was once the sport's center of gravity, today talent can come from everywhere. Pacific is positioned to recruit nationally, and I'm confident the program can rise quickly."  

The Tigers will compete in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation with Stanford, UCLA, USC, Pepperdine, BYU, Concordia-Irvine, Menlo, Jessup, UC Merced and Vanguard.

"While other universities are eliminating programs, Pacific Athletics is growing and expanding under the visionary leadership of Athletics Director Adam Tschuor," said President Christopher Callahan. "We are thrilled to return our storied men's volleyball program back to the Spanos Center."

Callahan expressed gratitude to USA Volleyball Foundation, First Point Volleyball and East Coast Volleyball, which provided a generous $250,000 grant to support the new men's volleyball program.

President and CEO of USA Volleyball John Speraw pledged the national governing body's support of Pacific and other NCAA DI programs that might consider adding men's volleyball.   

"This is an exciting time for our sport. Bringing men's volleyball back to Pacific marks a major milestone for Division I and for athletes striving to reach the highest levels of competition," Speraw said. "Restoring this program has long been a priority for First Point and USA Volleyball. Congratulations to President Callahan, the Pacific community and the expanding boys' volleyball ecosystem across Northern California and beyond. Thanks to our foundation's donors, more young men will now have greater collegiate opportunities than ever before."  

In addition to the USA Volleyball Foundation grant, more than two dozen proud Pacific men's volleyball alumni also have committed to annual pledges.
 
"This is a proud moment for Pacific and its men's volleyball alumni. Restoring the program honors a legacy built on national success and the lifelong impact this university had on all of us," said Chris Tamas '03, a former men's volleyball student-athlete and current head coach of the Illinois women's volleyball team. 

"We're grateful to President Callahan, Director of Athletics Adam Tschuor and our partners at First Point and USA Volleyball for helping bring this program back, as well as the alumni who championed its return. I'd like to thank and recognize longtime Pacific head coach Joe Wortmann, whose leadership shaped generations of Tigers. We are honored to compete once more in building on our proud history for future generations."

Tamas is one of four All-Americans to play for Pacific, earning the distinction in 2003. The others include Pekka Seppanen in 2007, Sean Rodgers in 2003 and two-time All-American Greg Wakeham in 1996 and 1997. Wakeham holds the school record in kills with 1,949.

"None of this would be possible if not for the vision and leadership of President Callahan, our Board of Regents and Cabinet for backing this bold step forward," Tschuor said. "Their support shows the strength and momentum of Pacific Athletics. I also want to thank East Coast Volleyball, First Point Volleyball and USA Volleyball for making this USAVF grant possible. Additionally, hearing from so many Pacific men's volleyball alumni throughout this process has been inspiring and greatly appreciated. The passion for this program runs deep and that has shown in the dozens of pledges to help support men's volleyball moving forward."

The new program will join women's volleyball and women's beach volleyball, women's and men's teams in basketball, water polo, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field and cross country as well as baseball, softball and men's golf.

A national search for the men's volleyball head coach begins immediately. During the search, interested recruits and coaching candidates may contact Deputy Director of Athletics and Chief Operating Officer Wes Yourth at wyourth@pacific.edu.