George Thomas Tait[1] (December 13, 1937 – January 10, 2024)[2] was an American volleyball coach. He founded both the Penn State Nittany Lions women's volleyball and Penn State Nittany Lions men's volleyball teams beginning in 1974. Since then, the teams have won a combined 9 NCAA national championships (women's: 7; men's: 2). Because of his success in developing the Penn State programs, he was known as the "founding father" of Penn State volleyball.[3]

Tom Tait
Biographical details
Born(1937-12-13)December 13, 1937
Washington, DC, U.S.
DiedJanuary 10, 2024(2024-01-10) (aged 86)
Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Alma materPennsylvania State University (PhD)
University of Maryland (BSc)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1976–1978Penn State (Women's)
1977–1989Penn State (Men's)
Head coaching record
Overall405–150–5 (.728)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
8x EIVA Champions (1980–1983, 1985–1988)
Awards
AVCA Hall of Fame (2003)

USA Volleyball All-Time Great Coach (2007)
EIVA Hall of Fame (2012) 5x Eastern Collegiate Coach of the Year

EIVA Coach Emeritus

Penn State

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Tait received his Ph.D. from Penn State in 1969 and became a faculty member. Prior to going into volleyball, he served as assistant track and field coach. He was approached by both the men's and women's volleyball clubs to help build the programs in 1974.

Women's team

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Tait began building the Penn State women's volleyball program in the early 1970s, elevating them from club to varsity status. The first official team began playing in 1976. Tait, who was also coaching the men's team, decided to focus on the men's team and passed the helm to Russ Rose, who would go on to become one of the most successful women’s volleyball coaches in NCAA history.

Men's team

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Tait officially elevated the men's team from club status to an NCAA Division I Program in 1977. During his time coaching the team, he won 8 conference titles and reached the NCAA Final Four 6 times.

Other works

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Tait also coached the men's United States national volleyball teams in 1984 and 1988.

In addition to his coaching, he was a professor at Penn State in kinesiology.[1] Tait retired from teaching at Penn State in 1996, and was a Distinguished Service Professor of Exercise Science and Coaching at Brevard College from 1996 through 2006.[1]

Death

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Tait died on January 10, 2024, at the age of 86.[2]

Awards

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  • 1986 Volleyball Monthly National Coach of the Year
  • 5 times Eastern Collegiate Coach of the Year
  • EIVA Coach Emeritus
  • EIVA Hall of Fame (2012)[3]
  • Member of the inaugural AVCA Hall of Fame induction class (2003)[4]
  • USA Volleyball All Time Great Coach.

Head coaching record

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Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Penn State (women's) () (1976–1978)
1976 Penn State 6–11–3
1977 Penn State 25–18 EAIAW Participant
1978 Penn State 20–14–1 EAIAW Participant
Penn State: 51–43–4 (.541)
Penn State (men's) (EIVA) (1977–1989)
1977 Penn State 37–8–2 5–1 3rd
1978 Penn State 30–10 4–2 3rd
1979 Penn State 32–6 7–1 2nd
1980 Penn State 19–9 7–1 T–1st
1981 Penn State 33–5 9–1 1st NCAA Final Four
1982 Penn State 35–5 9–0 1st NCAA Runner-Up
1983 Penn State 22–6–3 9–0 1st NCAA Final Four
1984 Penn State 18–10 4–2 2nd
1985 Penn State 15–15 4–2 1st
1986 Penn State 33–9 6–0 1st NCAA Final Four
1987 Penn State 30–5 8–0 1st NCAA Final Four
1988 Penn State 29–5 8–0 1st
1989 Penn State 21–14 6–2 2nd NCAA Final Four
Penn State: 354–107–5 (.765)
Total: 405–150–5 (.728)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Guide to the George Thomas Tait Papers, 1971-1989".
  2. ^ a b "George Thomas Tait". 16 January 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Tom Tait Selected to EIVA Hall of Fame". 12 April 2012.
  4. ^ "AVC Hall of Fame Selections".