CHICAGO, Ill. – After four years of guiding the Illinois Tech women’s volleyball program and three years as the architect and leader of men’s volleyball team, Head Men’s and Women’s Volleyball Coach Katie Reifert has stepped down.  She has accepted the position of assistant women’s volleyball coach at NCAA Division I Brown University, which she will begin at the end of Illinois Tech’s men’s volleyball season.

“I am so grateful for my time at Illinois Tech and the chance to work with such an incredible group of student-athletes,” said Reifert. “Building both the women's and men's teams here into what they are today has been a joy. I am sad to leave, but am confident that both teams have bright future ahead of them and are going to turn heads in the NACC next season.”

Reifert totaled 62 wins for the women’s volleyball program during her four years as head coach.  After two years 13-win seasons, she led the team to two straight USCAA Tournament appearances and a combined 36 wins over her final two years at the helm. In her tenure, Reifert coached two USCAA All-American First Team players, two USCAA All-American Second Team players, and one USCAA Student-Athlete of the Year: Reya Green. 

In addition, Reifert was the inaugural head coach of the men’s volleyball program at Illinois Tech, increasing the team’s win total in each season. Building a program from scratch in the Fall of 2015, Reifert established a culture of teamwork and improvement, seeing the team increase its win total by five from year one to year two. This season, men’s volleyball has enjoyed its first double-digit win total in program history with three matches still left to play.

“Katie Reifert has been a big part of our departmental progress in her short time here,” said Director of Athletics Joe Hakes. “She stepped into her role with the men’s team with a plan in place and has led both programs in a way that has represented the institution well.  Brown is getting a really good coach and a great person.”

"Katie has done a tremendous job with the women’s volleyball program the last four years and has the men’s volleyball program on the rise," said Assistant Athletic Director Marc Colwell. “She has built a great foundation for both programs.”

A national search for a new Head Coach for men’s and women’s volleyball will be conducted.