Chris Tamas

Chris Tamas
Chris Tamas at an Illinois volleyball practice in October 2022
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamIllinois
ConferenceBig Ten
Record115–67
Annual salary$368,000[1]
Biographical details
Born (1981-01-27) January 27, 1981 (age 43)
Santa Barbara, California
Alma materUniversity of the Pacific
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2009–2011UC Riverside (assistant)
2011–2012Minnesota (assistant)
2013–2015Cal Poly (assistant)
2014–2017Nebraska (assistant)
2017–presentIllinois
Head coaching record
Overall115–67
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
AVCA Northeast Region Coach of the Year (2018)

Christopher Tamas (born January 27, 1981) is an American volleyball coach. He is the head coach of the Illinois Fighting Illini women's volleyball team, a position he had held since 2017. In 2018, he led the Fighting Illini to the NCAA Final Four.[2]

Early life

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Tamas graduated from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, earning his bachelor's degree in sports sciences/management in 2003.[3]

Coaching career

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UC Riverside

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Tamas served as an assistant coach at UC Riverside from 2009 to 2011.

Minnesota

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Tamas served as an assistant coach at Minnesota from 2011 to 2012.

Cal Poly

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From 2013 to 2015, Tamas served as an assistant volleyball coach at Cal Poly.[4]

Nebraska

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On May 28, 2015, Tamas was hired by Nebraska to be an assistant volleyball coach under Hall of Fame head coach John Cook.[5]

Illinois

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Tamas was hired as Head Volleyball Coach by the University of Illinois on February 10, 2017, as the eighth head coach in Illinois history. Tamas led Illinois to the 2018 NCAA National semifinals. In the 2021 NCAA Tournament, Tamas led his team, who ranked 7th in the Big Ten conference, to an upset of national no. 7 seed and defending NCAA national champions Kentucky in the second round.[6]

Head coaching record

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Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Illinois Fighting Illini (Big Ten Conference) (2017–present)
2017 Illinois 23–11 12–8 T–5th NCAA Division I Regional semifinal
2018 Illinois 32–4 17–3 2nd NCAA Division I National semifinal
2019 Illinois 16–14 11–9 7th NCAA Division I first round
2020 Illinois 7–11 7–11 7th
2021 Illinois 22–12 12–8 7th NCAA Division I Regional semifinal
2022 Illinois 15–15 10–10 7th
2023 Illinois 16–14 11–9 T-6th
Illinois: 131–81 (.618) 80–58 (.580)
Total: 131–81 (.618)

Coaching tree

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Assistant coaches under Tamas who became NCAA head coaches

References

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  1. ^ ref https://www.trustees.uillinois.edu/trustees/resources/21-22-Gray-Book-Urbana.docx
  2. ^ "Chris Tamas". fightingillini.com. University of Illinois. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  3. ^ "Chris Tamas". fightingillini.com. University of Illinois. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  4. ^ "Chris Tamas". gopoly.com. Cal Poly. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  5. ^ "Husker volleyball hires assistant Chris Tamas from Cal Poly". omaha.com. BH Media Group. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  6. ^ "The Dance Continues as Illini Stun No. 7 Kentucky for Trip to Sweet 16". Illinois. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  7. ^ "Reed Named Head Coach for Alabama Volleyball".
  8. ^ "Alfee Reft Named UCLA Women's Volleyball Head Coach".
  9. ^ "Jason Mansfield Named Head Volleyball Coach".
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