University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Fisher Inks Contract Extension with Pitt Volleyball
1/7/2022 4:00:00 PM | Volleyball
Fisher to Lead Panthers Through at Least 2027 Season
PITTSBURGH – Following the Panthers' first NCAA Final Four appearance in December, Pitt volleyball head coach Dan Fisher has signed a contract extension that ensures his leadership through at least the 2027 season, Director of Athletics Heather Lyke announced Friday.
"We are thrilled to continue our commitment to Dan Fisher and the Pitt volleyball program," Lyke said. "Coach Fisher and his staff have set new standards of success for our department and built a strong foundation and brand of volleyball that is now known across the country. With three ACC championships, two Elite Eight runs and our first women's volleyball Final Four appearance, the sustained success of this program can be directly attributed to Coach Fisher's leadership abilities, he and his staff's coaching expertise and most importantly, the work ethic and teamwork of all the student-athletes and staff within the program. Our student-athletes' experiences have flourished with him at the helm, as they have reached new heights not only on the court, but in the classroom and in the community. This extension reaffirms our investment in the future success of Pitt volleyball."
Following the 2019 season, Fisher signed a contract that confirmed his tenure at Pitt through the 2026 season. Friday's update extends his leadership through 2027.
The Pitt volleyball program has skyrocketed to unprecedented success under Fisher's leadership, which includes three consecutive ACC championship titles (2017, 2018, 2019), back-to-back NCAA Elite Eights (2020, 2021) and the Panthers' first women's NCAA Final Four appearance in school history (2021). In nine years at Pitt, Fisher has amassed an overall record of 227-58 (.796), including a mark of 134-36 (.788) in the ACC. The Panthers have posted 19 or more wins in each of Fisher's nine seasons, including at least 30 wins in three of the last four campaigns.
"To say I'm honored and humbled by the support of Chancellor Patrick Gallagher and Heather Lyke would be an understatement," Fisher said. "My family and I are excited to continue making the city of Pittsburgh our home. We're going to keep working hard in pursuit of our goal of winning a championship."
Fisher's career win percentage of .834 (302-60) places him third among the 341 active NCAA Division I women's volleyball head coaches. His 302 victories make him the nation's winningest active head coach with 11 or fewer seasons in their career.
The Panthers will return three starters to the fold in 2022, including AVCA All-American middle blockers Serena Gray and Chiamaka Nwokolo, as well as seasoned libero Ashley Browske. Pitt is in good hands with rising senior setter Lexis Akeo, in addition to rising sophomore setter Rachel Fairbanks, who made a splash during her first NCAA Tournament run in December. The Panthers recently announced the addition of 6-foot-5 outside hitter Julianna Dalton, a 2020 PAC-12 All-Freshman Team selection out of Washington State.
FISHER CAREER HIGHLIGHTS AT PITT
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"We are thrilled to continue our commitment to Dan Fisher and the Pitt volleyball program," Lyke said. "Coach Fisher and his staff have set new standards of success for our department and built a strong foundation and brand of volleyball that is now known across the country. With three ACC championships, two Elite Eight runs and our first women's volleyball Final Four appearance, the sustained success of this program can be directly attributed to Coach Fisher's leadership abilities, he and his staff's coaching expertise and most importantly, the work ethic and teamwork of all the student-athletes and staff within the program. Our student-athletes' experiences have flourished with him at the helm, as they have reached new heights not only on the court, but in the classroom and in the community. This extension reaffirms our investment in the future success of Pitt volleyball."
Following the 2019 season, Fisher signed a contract that confirmed his tenure at Pitt through the 2026 season. Friday's update extends his leadership through 2027.
The Pitt volleyball program has skyrocketed to unprecedented success under Fisher's leadership, which includes three consecutive ACC championship titles (2017, 2018, 2019), back-to-back NCAA Elite Eights (2020, 2021) and the Panthers' first women's NCAA Final Four appearance in school history (2021). In nine years at Pitt, Fisher has amassed an overall record of 227-58 (.796), including a mark of 134-36 (.788) in the ACC. The Panthers have posted 19 or more wins in each of Fisher's nine seasons, including at least 30 wins in three of the last four campaigns.
"To say I'm honored and humbled by the support of Chancellor Patrick Gallagher and Heather Lyke would be an understatement," Fisher said. "My family and I are excited to continue making the city of Pittsburgh our home. We're going to keep working hard in pursuit of our goal of winning a championship."
Fisher's career win percentage of .834 (302-60) places him third among the 341 active NCAA Division I women's volleyball head coaches. His 302 victories make him the nation's winningest active head coach with 11 or fewer seasons in their career.
The Panthers will return three starters to the fold in 2022, including AVCA All-American middle blockers Serena Gray and Chiamaka Nwokolo, as well as seasoned libero Ashley Browske. Pitt is in good hands with rising senior setter Lexis Akeo, in addition to rising sophomore setter Rachel Fairbanks, who made a splash during her first NCAA Tournament run in December. The Panthers recently announced the addition of 6-foot-5 outside hitter Julianna Dalton, a 2020 PAC-12 All-Freshman Team selection out of Washington State.
FISHER CAREER HIGHLIGHTS AT PITT
- Pitt's first women's NCAA Final Four appearance in school history (2021)
- Back-to-back NCAA Elite Eight appearances (2020, 2021)
- Three consecutive ACC Volleyball championships (2017, 2018, 2019)
- Two ACC and AVCA East Coast Region Coach of the Year honors (2017, 2018)
- More NCAA Volleyball Tournament wins than any coach in program history (11)
- Longest NCAA postseason streak in program history (six seasons, 2016-present)
- Program-best rankings of No. 2 in the AVCA and No. 1 in the NCAA RPI (2019, 2021)
- Program-best NCAA Tournament national seed of No. 3 (2021)
- Three 30-win seasons (2018, 2019, 2021)
- Eleven Panthers have earned a combined 21 AVCA All-America honors
- Fifteen Panthers have earned a combined 26 AVCA All-Region honors
- Eighteen Panthers have earned a combined 35 All-ACC honors
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Players Mentioned
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