Tom Tait
Biographical details
Born(1937-01-12)January 12, 1937
DiedJanuary 10, 2024(2024-01-10) (aged 86)
Alma materPennsylvania State University (PhD)
University of Maryland (BSc)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1976–1978Penn State (Women's)
1977–1989Penn State (Men's)
Head coaching record
Overall405–150–5 (.728)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
8x EIVA Champions (1980–1983, 1985–1988)
Awards
AVCA Hall of Fame (2003)

USA Volleyball All-Time Great Coach (2007)
EIVA Hall of Fame (2012) 5x Eastern Collegiate Coach of the Year

EIVA Coach Emeritus

George Thomas "Tom" Tait[1] (January 12, 1937 – January 10, 2024) was an American professor, author, and volleyball coach. Tait founded both the Penn State Nittany Lions women's volleyball and Penn State Nittany Lions men's volleyball teams beginning in 1974. Since then, the teams have won a combined 9 NCAA national championships (women's: 7; men's: 2). Because of his success in developing the Penn State programs, he was known as the "founding father" of Penn State volleyball.[2]

Penn State

Tait received his Ph.D. from Penn State in 1969 and became a faculty member. Prior to going into volleyball, he served as assistant track and field coach. He was approached by both the men's and women's volleyball clubs to help build the programs in 1974.

Women's team

Tait began building the Penn State women's volleyball program in the early 1970s, elevating them from club to varsity status. The first official team began playing in 1976. Tait, who was also coaching the men's team, decided to focus on the men's team and passed the helm to Russ Rose, who would go on to become one of the most successful coaches in NCAA history.

Men's team

Tait officially elevated the men's team from club status to an NCAA Division I Program in 1977. During his time coaching the team, he won 8 conference titles and reached the NCAA Final Four 6 times.

Awards

  • 1986 Volleyball Monthly National Coach of the Year
  • 5 times Eastern Collegiate Coach of the Year
  • EIVA Coach Emeritus
  • EIVA Hall of Fame (2012)[2]
  • Member of the inaugural AVCA Hall of Fame induction class (2003)[3]
  • USA Volleyball All Time Great Coach.

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Penn State (women's) () (1976–1978)
1976 Penn State 6–11–3
1977 Penn State 25–18EAIAW Participant
1978 Penn State 20–14–1EAIAW Participant
Penn State: 51–43–4 (.541)
Penn State (men's) (EIVA) (1977–1989)
1977 Penn State 37–8–25–13rd
1978 Penn State 30–104–23rd
1979 Penn State 32–67–12nd
1980 Penn State 19–97–1T–1st
1981 Penn State 33–59–11stNCAA Final Four
1982 Penn State 35–59–01stNCAA Runner-Up
1983 Penn State 22–6–39–01stNCAA Final Four
1984 Penn State 18–104–22nd
1985 Penn State 15–154–21st
1986 Penn State 33–96–01stNCAA Final Four
1987 Penn State 30–58–01stNCAA Final Four
1988 Penn State 29–58–01st
1989 Penn State 21–146–22ndNCAA Final Four
Penn State: 354–107–5 (.765)
Total:405–150–5 (.728)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Other works

He also coached the men's United States national volleyball teams in 1984 and 1988.

In addition to his coaching, he was a professor at Penn State in kinesiology.[1] Tait retired from teaching at Penn State in 1996, and was a Distinguished Service Professor of Exercise Science and Coaching at Brevard College from 1996 through 2006.[1]

Death

Tait died on January 10, 2024 just prior to his 87th birthday.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Guide to the George Thomas Tait Papers, 1971-1989".
  2. 1 2 "Tom Tait Selected to EIVA Hall of Fame".
  3. ↑ "AVC Hall of Fame Selections".
  4. ↑ https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/tragic-loss-rocks-volleyball-community-as-legendary-coach-of-penn-state-nittany-lions-inaugural-varsity-team-passes-away/ar-AA1mWeYK
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