RENO, Nev. - Nevada volleyball coach Lee Nelson announced today Craig Choate has been added to the Wolf Pack coaching staff and named the Volunteer Assistant Coach heading into the 2019 season.
"Craig brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience that is unparalleled in a volunteer assistant coach," said Nelson. "He has coached with some of the nation's best and has had great success in his own right."
Choate has spent time at the helm of five different schools during his coaching career, which is comprised of nearly 800 matches as head coach.
Most recently Choate spent three seasons at Southern Utah University and finished the 2015 season with a program best finish. Prior to SUU he spend a single season at Snow College, earning 20 wins while playing 13 matches against teams ranked in the top-20 in the nation. The finished the season ranked no. 10 in final national rankings.
Prior to Snow, Choate led the Northern Arizona University team to their best season winning percentage in school history (.774), while posting a 24-7 record; 72-60 over his four seasons.
Choate compiled a record of 244-191 as the head women's volleyball coach at San Jose State over 14 years (1993-2006). He is that program's all-time leader in victories, including five 20-win seasons. He took three SJSU teams to the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the second round in 2001.
While with the Spartans, Choate earned the school its first national ranking in over 10 years; was named the Western Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 1999 by finishing with a record of 25-6 and took his team to a second place finish in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship in 1994.
Choate was also the head women's coach at New Mexico State for three years, from 1990-92. He had two separate one-year stints as an assistant coach for the highly-regarded men's volleyball program at Pepperdine University, as well as assistant coaching positions at both BYU and Cal Poly.
Choate was an assistant coach at the Olympic Festival in 1994 and 1995. He holds memberships in the AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association), the USAV and has a CAP III (Coaching Accreditation Program) coaching certification.
A Los Angeles native, Choate graduated from BYU in 1978 with a degree in physical education. He also earned a master's degree in physical education in 1982 and a second undergraduate degree in history in 1982, both from BYU.
Choate also has an impressive resume as a player as well. He won silver medals at the 1999, 2002, 2003 and 2004 USA Open Volleyball Championships in Atlanta. He also participated in the 1981 USVBA senior men's division open championships and received All-American honors.
