LOS ANGELES – UCLA Athletics has announced Alfred “Alfee” Reft as the UCLA women’s volleyball program’s next head coach. Reft arrives to Westwood after leading San Diego to its first-ever National Semifinal appearance in the NCAA Tournament in his role as associate head coach.
Reft currently serves as a seasonal assistant coach for the U.S. Women’s National Team under legendary Bruin and head coach Karch Kiraly. In addition to his 12 years as both a player and coach on the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams, Reft brings Big Ten Conference experience to UCLA after serving as an assistant at the University of Illinois from 2018-19 and at the University of Minnesota from 2010-12. He accumulated a 68-32 conference record across both stints and reached the Final Four with the Fighting Illini in the 2018 NCAA Tournament.
Prior to coaching, Reft was an alternate for the U.S. Men’s Olympic Team that won the Gold Medal in Beijing in 2008. He was also the designated libero for the U.S. National Team when they won the Gold Medal at the 2008 Pan American Cup and played in every match at the World University Games in Bangkok, Thailand, where he claimed a Bronze Medal.
“I am honored and could not be more excited to lead such a historic and storied program like the one at UCLA,” Reft said. “The lineage of excellence is thick and runs deep, resting on the shoulders of our alumni who have laid a foundation of greatness for future generations to come. I am thrilled to continue to build teams and athletes that carry on this tradition of Bruin success. I would like to express my gratitude for Martin Jarmond, Dr. Kenny Donaldson and the entire search committee involved in this hiring process. It was clear that this administration cares deeply about developing the holistic athlete, one who competes to be their very best on the court, in the classroom and in the community. I am beyond ready and excited to meet and learn about each and every one of our Bruins and to start this process of building something special with all of them.”
Alongside head coach Jennifer Petrie at San Diego, Reft helped steer the Toreros to the NCAA Tournament in each of his three seasons from 2020-22, as well as a West Coast Conference Championship in 2022. His seven NCAA Tournament wins are tied for the most in a three-year stretch in San Diego…
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