BYU’s Heather Olmstead announced Thursday she was moving on to pursue professional opportunities while four-decades veteran Beth Launiere announced her retirement at Utah on Monday.

Olmstead concludes tenure at BYU

PROVO — BYU women’s volleyball head coach Heather Olmstead announced Thursday that she will be transitioning out of her role as head coach of the BYU women’s volleyball team to pursue new professional avenues.

“Coaching at BYU has been an incredible chapter — one filled with championships, NCAA tournament runs and record-setting seasons,” Olmstead said. “But the true highlight has always been the people. I’m grateful for every athlete who let me be part of her journey and for the chance to help shape strong leaders, teammates and women who go on to make a difference long after their playing days. As I move into this next chapter, I do so with deep gratitude for the BYU community, for the players who trusted me with their development and for the staff who stood beside me through every challenge. I wish this program continued success, and I’m excited for what’s next.”

Olmstead took over the BYU women’s volleyball program in the 2015 season. In 11 seasons, Olmstead amassed a record of 279-55. She’s the fastest coach to reach 200 Division I wins, doing so in just 225 games, and also the third-fastest coach all-time to reach 100 Division I wins, doing so in just 111 games.

“I want to thank Heather for everything she has done to make BYU women’s volleyball great,” said BYU director of athletics Brian Santiago. “She poured her heart and soul into this program and guided incredible teams that have had consistent national relevance and success and represented BYU well.”

The 2018 AVCA National Coach of the Year, Olmstead and her staff’s development of players has led to 14 different All-Americans, 23 different All-Region honorees, nine different All-Big 12 honorees and 22 different All-WCC honorees in addition to a national player of the year candidate, the 2018 AVCA National Freshman of the Year and multiple West Coast Conference awardees.

Olmstead led the 2018 team to one of the greatest seasons in program history, ranking No. 1 for 11 consecutive weeks as they won their first 27 matches, including against then-No. 1 Stanford. BYU was awarded its highest-ever NCAA Tournament seed at No. 4, then reeled off wins against Stony Brook, Utah, Florida and Texas in front of standing-room-only crowds at the Smith Fieldhouse to advance to the Final Four before falling to eventual champion Stanford in the national semifinals.

BYU’s 30-2 (.939) record in 2021 led to the highest win percentage in program history and a No. 9 final national ranking.

Olmstead led BYU to Sweet 16 appearances six times as well as six WCC titles. The Cougars have won at least 19 matches each year (17 during COVID-19) during her time as head coach.

With Olmstead’s departure, BYU women’s volleyball associate head coach David Hyte will now serve as interim head coach.

— Jon McBride, BYU Athletics

Launiere announces retirement after 36 years leading Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah women’s volleyball head coach Beth Launiere announced her retirement Monday afternoon, bringing to a close her storied 36-year run as the leader of Utah’s volleyball program.

The program’s all-time winningest head coach (689-439), Launiere retires as the third-longest tenured head coach in the history of Utah athletics behind only Greg Marsden, who led Utah’s gymnastics program for 40 years (1976-2015), and Don Reddish, head coach of Utah’s men’s swimming program for 37 years. Launiere is the second-winningest head coach in department history behind Marsden (1,048-208-8).

“After 36 years as the head Volleyball coach at the University of Utah, I have made the difficult decision to announce my retirement,” Launiere said. “While it is not easy to walk away from a lifetime’s work, I am ready and excited to begin the next chapter of my life. Thank you to the hundreds of players whom I have had the privilege to coach, and the many assistant coaches, support staff and administrators who were my daily collaborators to build this program into what it is today. I will miss the daily interactions, but I know our relationships will last a lifetime. It has been an honor to represent one of the greatest universities in the country. I will forever love Utah and will always be a Ute!”

Launiere built Utah Volleyball from the ground up, beginning in 1990, as she turned Utah into a perennial top-25 program. Under her watch, the Utes were ranked in the AVCA Coaches Top 25 poll 183 weeks, including twice achieving a program-record 45 consecutive weeks ranked, from 2000-2002 and again from 2019-2022.

“It is nearly impossible to put into words the impact Beth Launiere has made at the University of Utah,” said Utah athletic director Mark Harlan. “Her legacy as one of the greatest coaches in the history of Utah Athletics is well-established, and the number of student-athletes, coaches and staff she has influenced in such a positive way stands at the top of her lengthy list of accomplishments.”

Launiere led Utah to 20 NCAA Tournament appearances, including back-to-back in her final two seasons. The Utes made four Sweet 16 appearances under Launiere (2001, 2008, 2017, 2019), won six conference championships (2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008), and notched 20 20-win seasons.

The same day, Utah announced the hire of Alyssa D’Errico as head coach. D’Errico served as the Utes’ associate head coach for the past three seasons.

D’Errico came to Utah after six seasons on the staff at Dayton and began with two years at Louisville.

— Michelle Bodkin, Utah Athletics