TUCSON, Ariz. – University of Arizona Vice President and Director of Athletics Dave Heeke announced Monday that storied head volleyball coach Dave Rubio has signed a new contract to lead the program through the 2023 season. Rubio, who is just the second volleyball coach in Pac-12 history to amass 500 wins, has built Arizona Volleyball into a program of national prominence since taking over in 1992.
 
"Arizona Athletics and the University of Arizona are ecstatic to have Dave Rubio continue to lead our volleyball program into a fourth decade," said Vice President and Director of Athletics Dave Heeke. "Coach Rubio is synonymous with Arizona Volleyball because of the legacy of excellence he has built at Arizona. Under his leadership, this program has been a model of consistency as generations of young women have grown and developed as student-athletes while competing for championships. Our entire Wildcat family is excited to have Dave continue to guide this program, which is a tremendous representation of the Block A and the University of Arizona."
 
Entering his 28^th season at the helm of the program, Rubio has posted decades of high-level success at Arizona with 512 victories, 20 NCAA appearances, eight Sweet 16's, four Elite Eights and a Final Four appearance. The continuation of Arizona's postseason success includes eight trips to the NCAA Tournament in the last ten seasons. The sustained team success of Rubio's tenure in Tucson is rivaled by the decorated careers of volleyball student-athletes, including a trio of Wildcat Olympians for Team USA.
 
"I'm grateful to Dave Heeke and the administration for their support and am excited to be a part of their continued leadership moving forward," Rubio noted. "I have called Tucson and the University of Arizona home for the last 27 years and to sign a contract that will keep me here over three decades is special. It is a testament to all of the players and coaches that have come through our program and many administrators over the years that supported the success of Arizona Volleyball. I'm thankful to my current coaching staff and cannot wait to continue our team's growth in 2019 and beyond."
 
Arizona's volleyball student-athletes have earned All-America honors on 15 different occasions while taking home a total of 32 all-conference accolades under Rubio's guidance. Wildcats have also been named to nearly every award possible in the Pac-12 Conference during the Rubio era, including Player of the Year, Setter of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The individual academic honors of the program are highlighted by 68 academic all-conference honorees with 22 of those coming in the last five seasons.
 
When the California native defeated New Mexico State on Sept. 14, 2018 to earn his 500^th victory at Arizona, Rubio became one of only six coaches in the history of Arizona Athletics to collect 500 wins. He joined the prestigious company of Mike Candrea, Fred Enke, Jerry Kindall, Lute Olson and Frank Sancet in that illustrious distinction.
 
After leading the Wildcats to their largest turnaround the program's Division I history in 2018, head coach Dave Rubio and the Wildcats will welcome back five starters plus their libero from last season's 22-win, NCAA Tournament team in 2019. The team recently wrapped up its spring practice and will head to Europe for international training this summer.