Staff Directory
Ryan Theis
- Title:
- Head Volleyball Coach
- Email:
Ryan Theis enters his second season as Florida volleyball’s head coach in the fall of 2026.
2025 Season
Florida extended its streak to 35 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, the third-longest active streak in the nation (Penn State – 45, Nebraska – 44), marking the first NCAA berth under Head Coach Ryan Theis in his inaugural season.
The Gators opened the year ranked No. 16 in the preseason polls and appeared in the AVCA Top 25 throughout September at No. 12, 11, 15, 19 and 23, before receiving votes for the remainder of the season. Florida began the season on the national stage at the AVCA First Serve in Lincoln, Nebraska, where Theis earned his first career win as Florida’s head coach with a five-set upset over then-No. 3 Pitt. The Gators also collected nonconference road victories at Ohio State and South Florida, while also defending home court with a five-set win over then-No. 20 Baylor.
Picked to finish fifth in the SEC Coaches Preseason Poll, Florida matched that projection in conference play. The Gators upset then-No. 16 Tennessee on the road to hand the Lady Vols their first home loss of the season, before pushing then-No. 3 Kentucky to five sets. The Wildcats went on to capture both the SEC Regular-Season and Tournament titles and advanced to the NCAA Championship match against fellow SEC opponent Texas A&M.
At the SEC Volleyball Championships in Savannah, Georgia, Florida opened tournament play with a dominant sweep of Alabama. The Gators’ 25-6 second-set victory tied a program record for fewest points allowed in a single set. Florida advanced to the quarterfinals before falling to No. 4 seed Tennessee in four sets.
Individually, Jaela Auguste earned AVCA Third-Team All-America honors and was named to the AVCA All-Southeast Region First Team, joined by Jordyn Byrd, Alec Rothe, Alexis Stucky, and Lily Hayes, who also claimed Southeast Region Freshman of the Year honors. Auguste was named to the All-SEC First Team after earning 2025 Preseason All-SEC recognition.
Byrd and Stucky received All-SEC Second Team honors, with Byrd also being added to the AVCA National Player of the Year Watchlist in October. Byrd earned MVP honors at the AVCA First Serve following Florida’s upset of Pitt. Stucky stood alone as the only player in the SEC to record a triple-double, posting 42 assists, 12 digs and 10 kills in Florida’s win over Auburn on Oct. 3.
Freshmen Lily Hayes and Milica Vidacic represented Florida on the All-SEC Freshman Team.
Theis (pronounced TICE) became the third head coach since the UF program was reinstated in 1984 on Feb. 17, 2025 . An assistant coach for the Gators in the 2006 and 2007 seasons, Theis made his return to Gainesville, bringing 17 seasons of head coaching experience and a 74% winning pct. (402-141). He joined the Gators after spending 11 years at Marquette (2014-24) where Theis amassed a record of 258-87 (.748) and led the program to 10 NCAA Tournament berths, advancing to NCAA Regional semifinal action three times, including in 2024. The Golden Eagles won three Big East Regular Season Championships. Theis holds the highest winning percentage among head coaches in MU history (.740), ending the last 10 seasons in the top 45 RPI. Six Marquette players earned All-American honors and 16 were All-Big East performers since Theis’ first season in 2014.
Before Theis was named head coach of the Golden Eagles, he served as the head volleyball coach at Ohio University from 2008-2014. Under his leadership, the Bobcats made four NCAA Championship appearances, including a pair of trips to the second round (2009 and 2010), and claimed four Mid-American Conference tournament championships. Both NCAA second round defeats came at the hands of seeded-hosts in pivotal fifth sets.
A two-time MAC Coach of the Year (2009 and 2013), Theis mentored three AVCA All-Americans during his tenure in Athens and helped 13 players earn all-conference accolades, including three conference player of the year selections.
He compiled a 79-17 (.823) record in league action at Ohio while winning three regular season league titles (six East Division championships) and was a combined 28-4 over his final two conference campaigns. Additionally, he became the most victories Bobcats’ coach in history with 144 wins.
Theis accumulated eight years of NCAA Division I coaching experience at various stops. In addition to his coaching duties, he spent six of those years in the role of recruiting coordinator at three different institutions.
Theis spent two seasons at the University of Florida (2006-07) as offensive and recruiting coordinator. During his two seasons in Gainesville the Gators compiled an overall record of 59-6 (38-2 Southeastern Conference), won a pair of conference titles and advanced to the NCAA regional semifinals.
His first recruiting class at Florida, which comprised the Gators' freshman class in 2007, included two of the nation's top 30 high school players and rated among the 10 best classes in the country. Theis was also critical in the signing of the Gators' 2008 class, which featured four players in the national top 30, including the top overall recruit, and was named the nation's No. 1 class by PrepVolleyball.com.
He also helped teams at each of his previous assistant coaching stops - Northwestern, Indiana and Eastern Illinois - to NCAA tournament appearances.
Theis began his collegiate playing career at Milwaukee in 1996, but the program was discontinued after that season. He then served as head coach while playing for the UW-Milwaukee club team from 1997-00, and was a two-time All-Midwest 10 selection as a setter and a three-time team captain.
Theis is originally from Madison, Wisconsin and earned his bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee before obtaining his master’s in Athletic Administration/Sport Management from Eastern Illinois University. Theis is married to the former Jenny Manz and they have three sons: Carter, Caleb and Colby.
Jenny is one of the most accomplished players in program history when she wore the Orange in Blue from 1996-99, earning All-America and SEC Player of the Year honors in 1998 and 1999.
* 2020-21 season played in spring 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic. NCAA limited field to 48 teams
2025 Season
Florida extended its streak to 35 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, the third-longest active streak in the nation (Penn State – 45, Nebraska – 44), marking the first NCAA berth under Head Coach Ryan Theis in his inaugural season.
The Gators opened the year ranked No. 16 in the preseason polls and appeared in the AVCA Top 25 throughout September at No. 12, 11, 15, 19 and 23, before receiving votes for the remainder of the season. Florida began the season on the national stage at the AVCA First Serve in Lincoln, Nebraska, where Theis earned his first career win as Florida’s head coach with a five-set upset over then-No. 3 Pitt. The Gators also collected nonconference road victories at Ohio State and South Florida, while also defending home court with a five-set win over then-No. 20 Baylor.
Picked to finish fifth in the SEC Coaches Preseason Poll, Florida matched that projection in conference play. The Gators upset then-No. 16 Tennessee on the road to hand the Lady Vols their first home loss of the season, before pushing then-No. 3 Kentucky to five sets. The Wildcats went on to capture both the SEC Regular-Season and Tournament titles and advanced to the NCAA Championship match against fellow SEC opponent Texas A&M.
At the SEC Volleyball Championships in Savannah, Georgia, Florida opened tournament play with a dominant sweep of Alabama. The Gators’ 25-6 second-set victory tied a program record for fewest points allowed in a single set. Florida advanced to the quarterfinals before falling to No. 4 seed Tennessee in four sets.
Individually, Jaela Auguste earned AVCA Third-Team All-America honors and was named to the AVCA All-Southeast Region First Team, joined by Jordyn Byrd, Alec Rothe, Alexis Stucky, and Lily Hayes, who also claimed Southeast Region Freshman of the Year honors. Auguste was named to the All-SEC First Team after earning 2025 Preseason All-SEC recognition.
Byrd and Stucky received All-SEC Second Team honors, with Byrd also being added to the AVCA National Player of the Year Watchlist in October. Byrd earned MVP honors at the AVCA First Serve following Florida’s upset of Pitt. Stucky stood alone as the only player in the SEC to record a triple-double, posting 42 assists, 12 digs and 10 kills in Florida’s win over Auburn on Oct. 3.
Freshmen Lily Hayes and Milica Vidacic represented Florida on the All-SEC Freshman Team.
Theis (pronounced TICE) became the third head coach since the UF program was reinstated in 1984 on Feb. 17, 2025 . An assistant coach for the Gators in the 2006 and 2007 seasons, Theis made his return to Gainesville, bringing 17 seasons of head coaching experience and a 74% winning pct. (402-141). He joined the Gators after spending 11 years at Marquette (2014-24) where Theis amassed a record of 258-87 (.748) and led the program to 10 NCAA Tournament berths, advancing to NCAA Regional semifinal action three times, including in 2024. The Golden Eagles won three Big East Regular Season Championships. Theis holds the highest winning percentage among head coaches in MU history (.740), ending the last 10 seasons in the top 45 RPI. Six Marquette players earned All-American honors and 16 were All-Big East performers since Theis’ first season in 2014.
Before Theis was named head coach of the Golden Eagles, he served as the head volleyball coach at Ohio University from 2008-2014. Under his leadership, the Bobcats made four NCAA Championship appearances, including a pair of trips to the second round (2009 and 2010), and claimed four Mid-American Conference tournament championships. Both NCAA second round defeats came at the hands of seeded-hosts in pivotal fifth sets.
A two-time MAC Coach of the Year (2009 and 2013), Theis mentored three AVCA All-Americans during his tenure in Athens and helped 13 players earn all-conference accolades, including three conference player of the year selections.
He compiled a 79-17 (.823) record in league action at Ohio while winning three regular season league titles (six East Division championships) and was a combined 28-4 over his final two conference campaigns. Additionally, he became the most victories Bobcats’ coach in history with 144 wins.
Theis accumulated eight years of NCAA Division I coaching experience at various stops. In addition to his coaching duties, he spent six of those years in the role of recruiting coordinator at three different institutions.
Theis spent two seasons at the University of Florida (2006-07) as offensive and recruiting coordinator. During his two seasons in Gainesville the Gators compiled an overall record of 59-6 (38-2 Southeastern Conference), won a pair of conference titles and advanced to the NCAA regional semifinals.
His first recruiting class at Florida, which comprised the Gators' freshman class in 2007, included two of the nation's top 30 high school players and rated among the 10 best classes in the country. Theis was also critical in the signing of the Gators' 2008 class, which featured four players in the national top 30, including the top overall recruit, and was named the nation's No. 1 class by PrepVolleyball.com.
He also helped teams at each of his previous assistant coaching stops - Northwestern, Indiana and Eastern Illinois - to NCAA tournament appearances.
Theis began his collegiate playing career at Milwaukee in 1996, but the program was discontinued after that season. He then served as head coach while playing for the UW-Milwaukee club team from 1997-00, and was a two-time All-Midwest 10 selection as a setter and a three-time team captain.
Theis is originally from Madison, Wisconsin and earned his bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee before obtaining his master’s in Athletic Administration/Sport Management from Eastern Illinois University. Theis is married to the former Jenny Manz and they have three sons: Carter, Caleb and Colby.
Jenny is one of the most accomplished players in program history when she wore the Orange in Blue from 1996-99, earning All-America and SEC Player of the Year honors in 1998 and 1999.
Ryan Theis at a Glance
- 418-153 career record in 18 seasons as head coach
- 73% winning pct. | ranked top-15 nationally
- 15 total NCAA Tournament appearances (1 Florida | 10 Marquette | 4 Ohio)
- 3 total NCAA Regional Semifinal appearances (2018, 2022, 2024)
- 11 Conference Championships (Regular season: 3 MU, 3 Ohio; Tournament: 1 MU; 4 Ohio)
- 3 Conference Coach of the Year honors
- 16, 20+ win seasons as head coach
- Marquette’s first ever AVCA Top 10 Ranking (#7 in 2019)
| Year | School | Overall | Conference | Conf. Finish | Conf Tourn | NCAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Ohio | 24-8 (.750) | 12-2 (.857) | 2nd -MAC | 1st | First Round |
| 2009 | Ohio | 27-7 (.794) | 15-1 (.938) | 1st | 1st | Second Round |
| 2010 | Ohio | 22-13 (.629) | 10-7 (.588) | T4th | 1st | Second Round |
| 2011 | Ohio | 23-10 (.697) | 14-4 (.778) | T2nd | T3rd | |
| 2012 | Ohio | 21-10 (.677) | 15-3 (.833) | 1st | T3rd | |
| 2013 | Ohio | 27-6 (.818) | 17-2 (.895) | 1st | 1st | First Round |
| 2014 | Marquette | 24-9 (.727) | 14-4 (.778) | 3rd – Big East | 1st | First Round |
| 2015 | Marquette | 22-12 (.647) | 12-6 (.667) | 4th | 2nd | Second Round |
| 2016 | Marquette | 23-9 (.719) | 13-5 (.722) | 2nd | 2nd | First Round |
| 2017 | Marquette | 22-10 (.688) | 15-3 (.833) | 2nd | 2nd | First Round |
| 2018 | Marquette | 28-7 (.800) | 15-2 (.882) | 2nd | 2nd | Third Round |
| 2019 | Marquette | 28-6 (.824) | 16-2 (.889) | 2nd | 2nd | Second Round |
| 2020-21* | Marquette | 10-4 (.714) | 4-2 (.667) | 2nd | ||
| 2021 | Marquette | 26-6 (.813) | 16-2 (.889) | T1st | 2nd | First Round |
| 2022 | Marquette | 29-4 (.879) | 17-1 (.944) | T1st | 2nd | Third Round |
| 2023 | Marquette | 21-11 (.656) | 16-2 (.889) | T1st | T3rd | Second Round |
| 2024 | Marquette | 25-9 (.735) | 16-2 (.889) | 2nd | 2nd | Third Round |
| 2025 | Florida | 16-12 (.571) | 9-6 (.600) | 5th | Quaterfinalist | Second Round |
| Career | 18 seasons | 418-153 (.732) | ||||
| Ohio | 6 seasons | 144-54 (.727) | ||||
| Marquette | 11 seasons | 258-87 (.748) | ||||
| Florida | 1 season | 16-12 (.571) |
Ryan Theis File
Coaching Career
- Florida Head Volleyball Coach (2025-present)
- Marquette University, Milwaukee Head Volleyball Coach (2014-2024)
- Ohio University Head Volleyball Coach (2008-2014)
- Florida Assistant Volleyball Coach (2006- March 2008)
- Northwestern Assistant Volleyball Coach (2004-2006)
- University of Indiana Assistant Volleyball Coach (2002-2004)
- Eastern Illinois University Assistant Volleyball Coach (2000-2002)
Coaching Honors
- 2017 Big East Coaching Staff of the Year
- 2009 and 2013 Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year
Degree
- Master's in Athletic Administration/Sport Management – Eastern Illinois University
- Bachelor's in Kinesiology – University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
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