American University

American University Mourns the Passing of Legendary Volleyball Coach Barry Goldberg (March 26, 2023)

Barry Goldberg, who built American University into a volleyball power, dies (Washington Post, March 26, 2023)

Ten-time Coach of the Year Barry Goldberg surpassed 800 career wins early in the 2022 season, which was his 34th at the helm of American University volleyball. Goldberg both established and continued an unprecedented level of success at AU. The Eagles won the Patriot League Championship in 16 of his last 22 seasons and made 18 NCAA Tournament appearances in 26 years. Goldberg's overall record following the 2022 season was an absolutely remarkable 812-311.

Goldberg, whose career at AU began in 1989, guided his team to 20 or more wins an unbelievable 29 times in 34 years with the program. His 812 career wins ranked him fourth among all active NCAA Division I head coaches at the conclusion of 2022, and 12th among coaches across all divisions.

The seven-time Patriot League Coach of the Year (2001, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016), three-time Colonial Athletic Association Coach of the Year (1990, 1997, 2000) and 2013 AVCA East Region Coach of the Year’s record speaks for itself:

• 284-35 (.890) Patriot League record over 21 years
• 812 wins ranked fourth among active NCAA DI head coaches
• 18 NCAA Tournament appearances in the last 26 years
• Conference championships in 19 of the last 26 years
• Two NCAA Tournament victories in 2013, first in program and Patriot League history, en route to the Sweet Sixteen

Since Goldberg’s first season as head coach in 1989, the Eagles accumulated a 372-78 (.827) record in Bender Arena. The team garnered 80 All-Patriot League selections in 22 years, 14 Player of the Year awards among 32 major award winners, and 16 players were voted the Most Valuable Player in the Patriot League Tournament.

In addition, American volleyball excelled off the court. Since Goldberg’s sixth season, the Eagles averaged above a 3.30 combined grade point average and earned a total of 175 selections to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll. AU volleyball had five Academic All-America selections, including Monika Smidova, a third team pick in 2014, and Karla Kucerkova, a two-time CoSIDA Volleyball Academic All-American of the Year. Goldberg coached three GTE/Academic All-Americans, five AU Student-Athletes of the Year and eight of his student-athletes earned Academic All-District recognition from the College Sports Information Directors of America.

Over 12 seasons in the Colonial Athletic Association before American joined the Patriot League, Goldberg coached 36 players to All-CAA teams, including 20 All-CAA First Team selections, two CAA Championship MVP accolades, and a CAA Rookie of the Year winner.

Goldberg graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in ’84 with a bachelor’s degree in communication and rhetoric, and while pursuing his master’s in counseling education, he became assistant coach for the Pitt women’s varsity team.

In the volleyball community, Goldberg was a fixture and has worked with several prestigious camps and committees. During his summers, Goldberg conducted individual and team volleyball camps at American and other locations in the Mid-Atlantic region. He also held seminars in the National Mizuno Coaching Clinic Series. Goldberg previously served as a voting member of the national AVCA Top 25 Coaches Poll and as a voting member of the All-America committee.

Goldberg lived in Maryland with his wife, Bonnie, who played volleyball at Eastern Michigan University. The two have three children - Arielle, who played volleyball at the University of the Pacific, Jared, who played volleyball at Grand Canyon University, and Mitchell, who played lacrosse at Richmond and graduated in 2019 as the program’s all-time leading goal-scorer.

GOLDBERG IN THE PATRIOT LEAGUE - YEAR-BY-YEAR
2022 (15-15, 6-9 PL) – It was a down year for the Eagles, but the season was not without its high points. Going 3-0 on the opening weekend was exactly what the Eagles needed to do to earn Goldberg his 800th career victory, and the celebration in Bender Arena following a 3-1 win vs. George Washington on August 27 was a great one. AU won three straight matches to close out the regular season and earn a spot in the PL Tournament where they fell in four sets at Navy. Senior Zeynep Uzen was named to the PL First Team for the third time in her career.

2021 (19-14, 11-5 PL) – Winning seven of their final eight Patriot League contests, the Eagles turned their 2021 season around impressive fashion. They finished as the fourth seed in the conference standings and then won both a quarterfinal and semifinal to advance to the PL Championship for the 20th time in 21 seasons as a member of the league. Junior Zeynep Uzen (first team) and senior Carlie Fikse (second team) both earned All-Patriot League honors.

2020-21 (4-4, 4-3 PL) – With both training and the season severely delayed and shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Eagles struggled but finished the regular season strong to earn a spot in the PL Tournament before bowing out in the semifinals to host Colgate. Senior Helena Elbaek finished her career with 1,079 kills to rank 12th all-time, and was named to the All-PL First Team as well as Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

2019 (24-8, 15-1 PL) – AU finished back on top, earning the league's No. 1 seed and defeating both Navy and Army in the Patriot League Tournament for the program's 16th conference title in 19 years. The Eagles took Towson to five sets before narrowly losing in the NCAA First Round. Newcomer Zeynep Uzen was named the PL Rookie of the Year, while Olivia Wassner took home PL Setter of the Year honors. Senior Kristen Largay finished her career as the leader at both AU and in the PL with 2,012 digs. 

2018 (20-13, 13-3 PL) – The Eagles tied for first in the Patriot League regular season standings but fell in a tight fifth set to Navy in the PL Tournament Championship and missed out on an NCAA Tournament berth for the first time in six seasons. Aleksandra Kazala closed out her AU career with a third straight Patriot League Player of the Year honor and was also named AVCA All-Region for a third year in a row.

2017 (26-8, 15-1 PL) – The Eagles, led by Patriot League Player of the Year Aleksandra Kazala, went to the NCAA Tournament, where they lost in the first round at seventh-ranked BYU.

2016 (27-8, 15-1 PL) – AU placed first in the Patriot League Tournament and appeared for the 16th time in the NCAA Tournament, led by the Patriot League Player of the Year Aleksandra Kazala.

2015 (28-7, 16-0 PL) – Goldberg guided the Eagles to their 13th Patriot League Tournament title and 15th NCAA tournament appearance, where they swept Kentucky in the first round before falling to in the second round to Ohio State.

2014 (26-7, 15-1 PL) – The Eagles completed the season with a 26-7 overall record and claimed their 12th Patriot League Tournament title, led by Monika Smodiva, the Patriot League Player of the Year. Smodiva repeated as the Patriot League Setter of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

2013 (34-3, 15-1 PL) – In his 24th season, Goldberg led the Eagles to a historic run as they finished with a 34-3 record, dropping just 22 sets all year and starting the season with 10 straight wins. The Eagles won their 11th Patriot League Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 13th time in 17 years. American claimed its first NCAA Tournament wins in program history against both Georgia and No. 14 Duke. The Eagles lost in the Sweet 16 against top-seeded Texas and ended the year at No. 19 in the AVCA Coaches Poll. Kristyna Lindovska earned AVCA All-Region Team selection while Monika Smidova was named Patriot League Setter and Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

2012 (21-10, 11-3 PL) – The Eagles finished the year with a 21-10 overall record and a 11-3 record in their conference. The team tied Army for second place in the Patriot League standings.

2011 (23-11, 13-1 PL) – With just three returning players, Goldberg took the Eagles to their 10th conference championship and 12th NCAA Tournament appearance. Goldberg earned his second straight Coach of the Year award. Sara Rishell was the second player in Patriot League history to be named the Player and Rookie of the Year in the same season and was also recognized as an AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention.

2010 (29-3, 14-0 PL) – In his 22nd season, Goldberg led the team to a perfect 14-0 conference record and a 29-3 overall record, earning him his third Coach of the Year honor. American held a 2-1 lead on No. 9 UCLA in the Eagles’ 11th NCAA Tournament appearance but could not hold the lead and fell 3-2 to the Bruins. All of Goldberg’s seniors received awards during the season, with Angelina Waterman selected for the AVCA All-Region Team and Magdalena Tekiel earning Patriot League Player of the Year honors. 

2009 (18-13, 11-3 PL) – The Eagles completed the season with a 18-13 overall record and a 11-3 conference record. American tied Colgate for second place in the Patriot League and fell to Army in the conference tournament final.

2008 (24-9, 13-1 PL) – Goldberg led the Eagles to their eighth consecutive Patriot League Tournament title, finishing the year with a 24-9 overall record, 13-1 in conference play, and a 12-1 mark at home. American’s performance earned the team four Patriot League awards. Senior Rubena Sukaj was the Player of the Year for the third straight season while Christina Nash received her second Setter of the Year honor. Junior Ivana Cebakova was named Defensive Player of the Year for the second time and freshman Rebecca Heath garnered Rookie of the Year plaudits.  

2007 (26-8, 13-1 PL) – The Eagles completed the season with a 26-8 overall record, 13-1 in conference play, and a 17-1 mark at home. American earned its seventh Patriot League Tournament title and made its ninth appearance in the NCAA tournament.

2006 (25-7, 14-0 PL) – In his 17th season, Goldberg earned his second Patriot League Coach of the Year award as he led the team to its sixth consecutive league regular season and tournament titles. Rubena Sukaj led the team to a 14-1 home record and a 14-0 conference record. American reached the first round in the NCAA tournament, but fell to top-ranked Nebraska, 3-1.

2005 (25-10, 13-1) – AU placed first in the Patriot League and went to its fifth straight NCAA Tournament, finishing the year at 25-10 overall.

2004 (24-7, 14-0 PL) – The Eagles went undefeated in league play for a third straight year and 24-7 overall, advancing to their fourth straight NCAA Tournament. Junior Cutrina Biddulph was named the Patriot League Co-Player of the Year and Honorable Mention All-America. Freshman Chelsea Brooks was named the league’s Rookie of the Year.

2003 (22-10, 14-0 PL) – Karla Kucerkova earned her third straight Patriot League Player of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards in leading the Eagles to a 14-0 league record and a third straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Nationally, she was named Academic All-America Player of the Year for a second time.

2002 (26-8, 14-0 PL) – The Eagles went undefeated in league play for a second year in a row and advanced to their second straight NCAA Tournament with the help of second-time Patriot League Player of the Year Karla Kucerkova.

2001 (26-4, 14-0 PL) – Karla Kucerkova won her first of three straight Patriot League Player of the Year Awards and guided the Eagles to an undefeated league record of 14-1 in their first-ever season in the conference. AU returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1998.