LEXINGTON, KY - The American Volleyball Coaches Association announced on Tuesday morning that Vassar College Men's Volleyball Head Coach Richard Gary was named the 2023 AVCA Division III Men's Volleyball Coach of the Year. Vassar is in the midst of a record-breaking season as the Brewers are 26-1 overall and have won 25 straight matches in route to making the Final Four for the fourth time in program history.

Vassar won its second UVC Championship title this spring as the Brewers defeated St. John Fisher in straight sets on April 16th to head to the NCAA Tournament. The Brewers hosted the First Round and Quarterfinal matches in Kenyon Hall as Vassar swept Baruch in its first round match followed by defeating Southern Virginia in four sets to advance to the Final Four.

Coach Gary has led Vassar to its first ever #1 ranking in program history in the AVCA/NVA National Poll and has been ranked #1 for the final three weeks of the season. Three players were named AVCA First Team All-Americans as senior outside hitter Andrew Kim, junior setter Jacob Kim and senior Gavin van Beveren were all tabbed All-Americans following their outstanding seasons. Gary has a 132-47 overall record and is 43-11 in UVC matches in his seven year tenure at the helm of Vassar.

Vassar will take on #5 North Central in the NCAA semifinals on Friday evening at 5:00 p.m. in Owings Mills, MD on the campus of Stevenson University. Stevens and Messiah will face off in the other semifinal at 7:30 p.m. with the two winners competing for the National Championship at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.