University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt Volleyball Mourns Chris Beerman
1/25/2021 3:55:00 PM | Volleyball
PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh volleyball program is mourning the death of former head coach Chris Beerman, who passed away at the age of 53.
"The volleyball community is hurting today with the loss of Chris Beerman," Pitt head coach Dan Fisher said. "I did not know him well, but I have so much respect for his leadership and legacy with Pitt volleyball. We mourn with our alumnae and send our thoughts and prayers to his family."
A former Big East Coach of the Year, Beerman spent eight seasons at the helm of the Pitt volleyball program (2000-07), holding an overall 154-89 record that included a 2003 Big East title and two NCAA Tournament appearances.
The Panthers won the 2003 Big East championship with a 3-0 victory over defending champion Notre Dame at the Joyce Center in South Bend. It was the first time in history a Big East team had defeated the Fighting Irish on their home court. Beerman's team then advanced to its first NCAA Tournament since 1994. Beerman was subsequently named Big East Coach of the Year as well as the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Northeast Region Coach of the Year. The following season, Pitt advanced to the NCAA Tournament second round for just the second time in program history.
During his tenure at Pitt, Beerman had three players named Big East Libero of the Year, two Big East Players of the Year and one named the Big East Rookie of the Year. He coached five AVCA All-Americans while at Pitt, including Wendy Hatlestad (Third Team – 2003), Diana Andreyko (Honorable Mention – 2006), Megan McGrane (HM – 2004, 2005), Megan Miller (HM – 2003, 2004), and Gini Ullery (HM – 2004).
Beerman's 20-year career in collegiate volleyball included stops at Louisville, South Florida, James Madison and Kentucky in addition to Pittsburgh. Overall, he a was a three-time coach of the year and participated in eight NCAA Tournaments, including the Sweet 16 while an assistant coach at Kentucky in 2009.
Following his time in collegiate volleyball, Beerman founded the Lexington United Volleyball (LUV) club, where he grew the program into the largest youth volleyball club in central Kentucky for players ages 9-18. Beerman also coached club volleyball in Tampa, Fla., and Louisville, Ky., in addition to founding the Valley Juniors club in Harrisonburg, Va.
As a collegiate player, Beerman was a two-time All-American at Ball State and led the Cardinals to three consecutive NCAA Men's Final Fours from 1988-90. Additionally, Beerman was a member of the bronze medal 1986 and 1987 Olympic Sports Festival teams, as well as a member of the training team for the 1991 World University Games. A 1991 graduate of Ball State with a bachelor's degree in physical education, Beerman earned his master's degree in sports administration from Louisville in 1995.
Beerman is survived by wife Mary-Beth, also a former volleyball player at Ball State, and his two children: Kendall a former LUV player who played collegiately at Indiana University, and Jackson, a current football player at EKU.
Pitt Volleyball Alumnae on Chris Beerman:
"Where do you start when you talk about 'The Great'? How can you sum up things about a person who immensely impacted your life? You can't. Chris Beerman was not only a great coach, but an even better person. He shaped my life in ways that only those that knew him will understand. He lived and breathed confidence, absolute strength both physically and mentally. Across the board, Chris allowed my team and me to develop a correct and a real understanding of a competition and a fight. Weakness was not an option, ever. Giving up without a fight, forget about it. He demanded for us to pretty much be the 'modern Amazons' and I am grateful for that. I am who I am of course because of my family, and Chris is my family. I am who I am because of him. Forever grateful, forever proud to be a Beerman kid. I will forever cherish and hold close to my heart every moment, every memory and every single piece of advice. Sincerest condolences to MB, Kendall and Jackson: they were his light and his Achilles heel because of how much he loved them. Chris will live on because legends never die." – Diana Andreyko (2004-07)
"To me, Chris Beerman perfectly embodied the city of Pittsburgh. He was a blue-collar grinder through and through. He was gritty and tough. He loved to work, he loved to compete, and not only did he love to win, he wanted to win in a way that would gut our opponents. He never cared who was on the other side of the net. All that mattered was that we played with a serious intensity, that we never gave up, and that we sure as heck never got outworked. It wasn't always pretty the way we played, but there was no doubt we were always well prepared, that we were ready to grind, and that we wanted to win for our coach. He encouraged us to be unselfish, unneedy, emotionally strong, and competitive teammates. He made me proud to be a Pitt Panther. Chris never stopped coaching me, even when my time at Pitt was done. He continued to mentor me and was always one of the first phone calls I made when I was considering a new job and even a career change. I would hang up the phone feeling like I was invincible and that I could do anything, simply because I knew he still believed in me. To him, nothing was impossible. Chris always saw a bigger future for me than I did for myself. He never gave up on me and continued to push me, even when I didn't have that same confidence in myself. For that, he has my utmost respect. It wasn't always 'roses and sunshine,' but I know that I am the strong, independent woman I am today greatly because of my time with Chris. And for that I will always be thankful." – Stephanie Ross (2005-08)
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"The volleyball community is hurting today with the loss of Chris Beerman," Pitt head coach Dan Fisher said. "I did not know him well, but I have so much respect for his leadership and legacy with Pitt volleyball. We mourn with our alumnae and send our thoughts and prayers to his family."
A former Big East Coach of the Year, Beerman spent eight seasons at the helm of the Pitt volleyball program (2000-07), holding an overall 154-89 record that included a 2003 Big East title and two NCAA Tournament appearances.
The Panthers won the 2003 Big East championship with a 3-0 victory over defending champion Notre Dame at the Joyce Center in South Bend. It was the first time in history a Big East team had defeated the Fighting Irish on their home court. Beerman's team then advanced to its first NCAA Tournament since 1994. Beerman was subsequently named Big East Coach of the Year as well as the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Northeast Region Coach of the Year. The following season, Pitt advanced to the NCAA Tournament second round for just the second time in program history.
During his tenure at Pitt, Beerman had three players named Big East Libero of the Year, two Big East Players of the Year and one named the Big East Rookie of the Year. He coached five AVCA All-Americans while at Pitt, including Wendy Hatlestad (Third Team – 2003), Diana Andreyko (Honorable Mention – 2006), Megan McGrane (HM – 2004, 2005), Megan Miller (HM – 2003, 2004), and Gini Ullery (HM – 2004).
Beerman's 20-year career in collegiate volleyball included stops at Louisville, South Florida, James Madison and Kentucky in addition to Pittsburgh. Overall, he a was a three-time coach of the year and participated in eight NCAA Tournaments, including the Sweet 16 while an assistant coach at Kentucky in 2009.
Following his time in collegiate volleyball, Beerman founded the Lexington United Volleyball (LUV) club, where he grew the program into the largest youth volleyball club in central Kentucky for players ages 9-18. Beerman also coached club volleyball in Tampa, Fla., and Louisville, Ky., in addition to founding the Valley Juniors club in Harrisonburg, Va.
As a collegiate player, Beerman was a two-time All-American at Ball State and led the Cardinals to three consecutive NCAA Men's Final Fours from 1988-90. Additionally, Beerman was a member of the bronze medal 1986 and 1987 Olympic Sports Festival teams, as well as a member of the training team for the 1991 World University Games. A 1991 graduate of Ball State with a bachelor's degree in physical education, Beerman earned his master's degree in sports administration from Louisville in 1995.
Beerman is survived by wife Mary-Beth, also a former volleyball player at Ball State, and his two children: Kendall a former LUV player who played collegiately at Indiana University, and Jackson, a current football player at EKU.
Pitt Volleyball Alumnae on Chris Beerman:
"Where do you start when you talk about 'The Great'? How can you sum up things about a person who immensely impacted your life? You can't. Chris Beerman was not only a great coach, but an even better person. He shaped my life in ways that only those that knew him will understand. He lived and breathed confidence, absolute strength both physically and mentally. Across the board, Chris allowed my team and me to develop a correct and a real understanding of a competition and a fight. Weakness was not an option, ever. Giving up without a fight, forget about it. He demanded for us to pretty much be the 'modern Amazons' and I am grateful for that. I am who I am of course because of my family, and Chris is my family. I am who I am because of him. Forever grateful, forever proud to be a Beerman kid. I will forever cherish and hold close to my heart every moment, every memory and every single piece of advice. Sincerest condolences to MB, Kendall and Jackson: they were his light and his Achilles heel because of how much he loved them. Chris will live on because legends never die." – Diana Andreyko (2004-07)
"To me, Chris Beerman perfectly embodied the city of Pittsburgh. He was a blue-collar grinder through and through. He was gritty and tough. He loved to work, he loved to compete, and not only did he love to win, he wanted to win in a way that would gut our opponents. He never cared who was on the other side of the net. All that mattered was that we played with a serious intensity, that we never gave up, and that we sure as heck never got outworked. It wasn't always pretty the way we played, but there was no doubt we were always well prepared, that we were ready to grind, and that we wanted to win for our coach. He encouraged us to be unselfish, unneedy, emotionally strong, and competitive teammates. He made me proud to be a Pitt Panther. Chris never stopped coaching me, even when my time at Pitt was done. He continued to mentor me and was always one of the first phone calls I made when I was considering a new job and even a career change. I would hang up the phone feeling like I was invincible and that I could do anything, simply because I knew he still believed in me. To him, nothing was impossible. Chris always saw a bigger future for me than I did for myself. He never gave up on me and continued to push me, even when I didn't have that same confidence in myself. For that, he has my utmost respect. It wasn't always 'roses and sunshine,' but I know that I am the strong, independent woman I am today greatly because of my time with Chris. And for that I will always be thankful." – Stephanie Ross (2005-08)
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