Biography

Pat Powers

Pat Powers , affectionately known as “PP,” by most volleyball aficionados over the age of 50, is truly one of the best, and arguably “the best,” volleyball coaches in the world. He had devoted a good deal more than 10,000 hours:  playing, studying, teaching, coaching, analyzing, judging, and living the game of volleyball for over 50 years. He is especially gifted at reaching the up and coming athlete by showing him, or her, the reality of reaching your dream in your sport. You need more than talent, skill, work ethic, and competitive spirit. You need an attitude that is constantly striving for better performance by yourself and your teammates. You need to earn your position which is to make each and every player on your team a better player and a beneficial member of the club.

Coach Pat attended Santa Monica HS where he was cut from the varsity team as a junior.  He used that defeat to make the team the following year and then earn a spot as a Santa Monica Junior College TEAM NAME where he led the team to the 1977 California State title. He then transferred to USC where he was a key hitter/blocker for 1980 NCAA championship team after being a starter on the 1979 NCAA runner-up team. He represented the USA in the 1979 Pan-American Games. Pat was a two-time NCAA All-American and two-time NCAA All-Tournament team selection. An all-time USVBA All-American, 5-time champion and twice the USA National Player of the Year, Powers excelled internationally as a member of the 1984 USA Indoor Gold Medal Olympic team, plus 1985 World Cup title squad. He was the 1986 Co-USA Team MVP (with 2017 SCIVBHOF member Karch Kiraly) as the squad won the World Championship. After retiring indoors, he played on the beach and won 12 tournaments, becoming one of only a handful of players to ever win both NCAA and Beach Titles. He was a member of USA VB 75th Anniversary Team (1978-2002) and a member of Pac-12 and ‘Volleyball Magazine’ All-Century team. Pat also serves the FIVB (International federation of Volleyball,) the premier governing body for volleyball all over the world, as a distinguished member of the Referring and Rules Commission.

After retiring as a player, Pat spent six-years as USC Men’s Volleyball head coach winning 100 matches and twice coming within one win of the NCAA Volley Four. Moving his beautiful family back to their home in North San Diego County and for the next 20 years, He became the most highly acclaimed clinic instructors in volleyball history by teaching his methods to players all over the United States and the world. Even the most advanced players swear by his methods and gain knowledge from his insights by returning to his clinics year after year. Finally, to really advance his insights and expand his position as a volleyball guru, Pat started his own club volleyball team when his own daughters were ready to play. By directing his own non-profit educational association with the local YMCA, Coach Pat is able to give back to his community by offering his experience to the girls in a low-cost club where he develops players and teams to not only win volleyball matches but to be an amazing team player, a good student, and a hard worker on and off the court.

  • Six years Head Men’s Volleyball Coach at University of Southern California
  • ONLY ONE OF THREE PLAYERS IN WORLD WHO HAS WON AN INDOOR AND BEACH CHAMPIONSHIP!
  • ELEVEN TIME ALL-AMERICAN
  • 2 TIME MVP OF USA Volleyball NATIONALS
  • 1988 VOTED BEST BLOCKER AND SPIKER ON AVP TOUR
  • 1986 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP GOLD MEDALIST
  • 1986 CO-MVP WITH KARCH KIRALY ON TEAM USA
  • 1985 WORLD CUP GOLD MEDALIST
  • 1984 OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST
  • 1980 NCAA MEN’S VOLLEYBALL CHAMPION
  • 1979 PAN-AMERICAN TEAM
  • 1978 JUNIOR NATIONAL TEAM