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Wake-Up Call: After 800 wins, UT's Catanach only looks ahead

Photo by ANDY MENG

University of Tampa volleyball coach Chris Catanach poses with daughter Tina, left, and wife Linda after winning his 800th career match over Lynn University Friday.

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By JOEY JOHNSTON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 27, 2009

The Wake-Up Call greets you each weekday with news, views and a few Tampa Bay area sports offerings to anticipate for the day and night. We encourage suggestions and contributions.

Good morning!

Eight-hundred career victories.

University of Tampa volleyball coach Chris Catanach didn't want to dwell on his career milestone, which was achieved Friday night when the Spartans defeated Lynn University on homecoming at the Martinez Sports Center.

"It's about so many people, not just me,'' said Catanach, 47, in his 26th season with the Spartans. "All the players, the assistant coaches, the athletic trainers.

"In time, I may want to look back and reflect. But I don't think I'm at the age to do something like that. I want to look forward to all the things yet to come.''

But even Catanach admits 800 is an impressive number, one he never expected to achieve. It's about longevity. It's about passion. It's about an unyielding attention to detail.

And it's also about a little luck.

Really, there's no way Catanach should've been hired as the University of Tampa's volleyball coach in 1983. He had been a student assistant with the program before taking a job with the UT admissions office.

He was in Cincinnati, visiting high schools to scout out prospective UT students, when he heard the volleyball head-coaching job had suddenly came open.

"There was a snowstorm coming through town, so my work there was cancelled and I got in the car and drove as far as I could,'' Catanach said. "Then I woke up and drove the rest of the way back to Tampa. I was in the office of the athletic director (Bob Birenkott) to tell him, 'I want this job and I'll do anything to get it.'

"It's kind of funny because I was not remotely qualified. I just had the passion for it. It was what I wanted.''

Catanach had no real coaching experience. He was 22.

But he would do anything for the position.

Birenkott made the offer. OK, you can coach volleyball. You can also coach men's and women's tennis. And part of your deal, Birenkott includes a few other jobs, too.

"There was this carnival we had on campus, this fundraiser, and I was in charge of the custodial service for it,'' Catanach said. "I had to hire people to clean up.

"Yep, that's how it started. I did whatever it took. I didn't know I'd be doing it this long. When the passion for the sport went away, I would quit. I knew that. But it never went away. It has been a great journey.''

A journey that included a national championship in 2006 and a national coach of the year honor in 1991.

An unlikely career that made him a 12-time Sunshine State Conference Coach of the Year and a 10-time South Region Coach of the Year.

A legacy aptly punctuated by 38 All-American players – and at least one in 13 consecutive seasons.

A passion that still continues.

Following the 800th victory, when Catanach's wife Linda brought some cake and balloons, the celebration was brief. After all, there was another contest the next day. So the Spartans returned in the morning, watched some film, made their normal preparations and delivered career victory No. 801 (against just 153 losses).

"We do things a certain way here,'' Spartans sophomore middle hitter Janae Nelson said. "Coach never wants us to let any details slide because that's when things get too sloppy. We knew it was a great milestone, but we had work to do the next day. That's how our program operates.''

Catanach had a few opportunities for a Division I job. He twice interviewed with the University of South Florida. He was offered the job at Virginia, but turned it down.

The Division II position at UT was a better fit.

"The grass isn't always greener,'' Catanach said. "This university has been a great place to work. We have what we need here to be successful.

"We may not have the (most highly rated recruits) when they enter our program, but we get to develop them. It's rewarding. To see them from the beginning to the finished product is something I really love. So I'm at home with this program, no question.''

Although Catanach is largely beloved by his players – the presence of several former Spartans at the 800th victory was evidence of that relationship – he's not a buddy-buddy figure.

Not by a long shot.

"You can't take a play off,'' Spartans sophomore libero Julie Howlett said. "Non-effort is not tolerated. If we do something like that, he's on us like no other.''

"Of course, there are days when you're not that crazy about seeing him because he pushes you so hard, but there's so much respect there,'' Spartans junior outside hitter Kaleigh Cunningham said. "We know he cares about us as people. He cares about our grades, our families, what we're doing on a Saturday night. When you leave here, you're a better volleyball player and a better person.''

Catanach shows no signs of slowing down.

He's not actively pursuing other milestones, although more will come in time.

It's about the process. It's about the journey.

"I don't think Coach's influence will ever leave me,'' Cunningham said. "I know one thing. I want to come back and see his 1,000th victory.''

UK's Gonzalez honored by SEC

University of Kentucky center Jorge Gonzalez (Tampa Catholic) was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week after his standout performance in a 36-13 win against Louisiana-Monroe. Gonzalez graded out at 86 percent and did not allow a sack. He was part of an offensive line that accounted for 330 yards and a 6.3-yard average per play.

McCluster honored by SEC, too

Ole Miss running back/wide receiver Dexter McCluster (Largo) was named SEC Offensive Player of the Week. McCluster rushed for 123 yards and caught seven passes for 137 yards, becoming the first Ole Miss player in the modern era (records date to 1965) with a 100-yard rushing game and a 100-yard receiving game.

Figgins ends with a slump

Los Angeles Angels third baseman Chone Figgins (Brandon) had a superb regular season, batting .298 with an American League-leading 114 runs scored, 101 walks and 42 stolen bases.

But his postseason was something to forget.

In nine playoff games, including the six-game loss against the New York Yankees, Figgins was 3-for-35 with two runs scored and no stolen bases.

Prior to Game 6 of the American League Championship Series, Angeles manager Mike Scioscia considered dropping Figgins from the leadoff position, but opted for the status quo.

"Obviously, (Figgins) is not lighting it up,'' Scioscia said over the weekend. "I think part of staying with these guys is he's grinding it out and I think if you grind it out and start to get better at-bats, hopefully the production will be there.

"There's nowhere to hide a guy in a lineup. Everybody has to pull their own weight. I think Figgy's comfort level as a leadoff hitter is there and we feel he's going to bring us what we need.''

Figgins went 1-for-4 with a run scored in Sunday night's Game 6, but the Yankees prevailed, 5-2.

Figgins, a free agent, is expected to become one of the hottest names in the offseason.

2012 ACC hoops to Atlanta

The 2012 ACC Men's Basketball Tournament was awarded to Atlanta – to the 18,279-seat Phillips Arena, not the Georgia Dome – in one of the event's rare trips off Tobacco Road.

The ACC tournament, held at Tampa in 2007, will be in its traditional home of Greensboro, N.C., in 2010-11 and 2013-15.

Birthday wishes

Happy birthday to former Bucs wide receiver Bert Emanuel, who is best remembered for the apparent catch – ruled a non-catch, after a lengthy review – in the NFC Championship Game against the St. Louis Rams. Emanuel's play would've put the Bucs within striking distance at third-and-10 from the Rams' 23-yard line. Instead, the reversal put Tampa Bay into Hail Mary desperation – then the Rams reached (and won) Super Bowl XXXIV.

Emanuel's play will always have a place in Bucs' lore.

Today, he turns 39.

The Answer Man

Here's the answer to Monday's trivia question:

Former Jesuit running back Anthony Allen, now at Georgia Tech, set the University of Louisville single-game rushing record with a 275-yard effort in 2007. Louisville's opponent that night was Middle Tennessee State.

Tuesday trivia

Here's our daily sports trivia question, featuring a Tampa Bay/Florida spin. Try your luck by commenting below.

Who was Chris Catanach's predecessor University of Tampa volleyball coach?

Check for the answer in Wednesday's Wake-Up Call.

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