UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; May 25, 2007. “G. Thomas (Tom) Tait, the founding father of both the Penn State men’s and women’s volleyball programs, was honored as an All-Time Great Coach in the Pioneer Division by USA Volleyball at the USAV Boyce Awards banquet in Austin on May 24. Tait, an inaugural inductee into the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s (AVCA) Hall of Fame in 2003, founded and coached the Penn State University women’s volleyball club in 1974. By 1976, he convinced the Penn State administration to add both men��s and women’s volleyball as varsity sports.

“This is a great recognition for Tom’s contributions to volleyball and coaching in general,” said women’s head coach Russ Rose, who took over the program from Tait in 1979 and was himself recognized as a USAV All-Time Great Coach in the Contemporary Division in 2005. “He is a great leader in both of those areas and this award is a reflection of the impact he has made within the game. We wouldn’t be where we are today without him.” More on Tom Tait from gopsusports.