TUCSON, Ariz. – University of Arizona Vice President and Director of Athletics Dave Heeke announced Wednesday that storied head volleyball coach Dave Rubio has signed a contract extension to lead the program through the 2026 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.
 
"Dave continues to lead a program of excellence that proudly represents the University of Arizona," said Vice President and Director of Athletics Dave Heeke. "He is a fixture in the history of our athletics department, the Pac-12 Conference and the game of volleyball. His leadership of our volleyball program has developed generations of student-athletes into athletic, academic and life champions, and I look forward to Dave adding more chapters to the storied legacy of Arizona Volleyball."
 
Entering his 31st season at the helm of the program, Rubio has posted three decades of high-level success at Arizona with 554 victories, 20 NCAA appearances, eight Sweet 16's, four Elite Eights and a Final Four appearance. The continuation of Arizona's postseason success includes five trips to the NCAA Tournament and one NIVC appearance in the last nine 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 am grateful and honored to sign a contract extension through 2026," said head coach Dave Rubio. "I want to personally thank Dave Heeke for his support in my efforts to lead the Arizona volleyball program. I am proud to say that Tucson has been my home for 30 years and that speaks volumes to the players and coaches that have come through this program. I'm excited to lead this program and continue our team's growth in 2022 and beyond."
 
Arizona's volleyball student-athletes have earned All-America honors on 15 different occasions while taking home a total of 34 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 79 academic all-conference honorees with 18 of those coming in the last five seasons.
 
Rubio became one of only six coaches in the history of Arizona Athletics to collect 500 wins in 2018. He joined the prestigious company of Mike Candrea, Fred Enke, Jerry Kindall, Lute Olson and Frank Sancet in that illustrious distinction. He reached 676 career victories during the 2021 season, eighth most among all active Division I volleyball coaches.
 
After leading the Wildcats to their first NIVC appearance in 2021, head coach Dave Rubio and the Wildcats will welcome back five starters plus their libero from last season's 17-win, NIVC Tournament team in 2022.