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UCLA women’s volleyball hires Alfred Reft as new head coach

New UCLA women’s volleyball head coach Alfred Reft talks to his players during a match. Reft was hired as the fourth head coach in program history on Monday. (Courtesy of Illinois Athletics)

By Amelie Ionescu

Dec. 19, 2022 12:05 p.m.

After decades of UCLA alumni at the helm, the Bruin coaching staff will welcome someone from outside the family.

UCLA women’s volleyball announced Monday it has hired former San Diego associate head coach Alfred Reft to be its next head coach. Replacing former coach Michael Sealy, who resigned Dec. 1, Reft is now the fourth head coach in program history. 

Reft’s resumé with the Toreros boasts three NCAA tournament appearances and a 64-15 record over the span of his three years.

“I am honored and could not be more excited to lead such a historic and storied program like the one at UCLA,” Reft said in a statement. “I am beyond ready and excited to meet and learn about each and every one of our Bruins and to start this process of building something special with all of them.”

Reft helped lead the Toreros to their best season in program history in 2022, complete with a West Coast Conference Championship and San Diego’s first-ever Final Four appearance. The team went undefeated in conference play and only faced two losses all season en route to a 31-2 overall record. 

“Alfee is one of the brightest young volleyball minds in the country and a proven winner,” UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond said in a statement. “I am confident he will add to the storied legacy of our volleyball program. We are delighted to welcome him into our Bruin Family.”

Prior to his stint at San Diego, Reft served as an assistant coach at Illinois from 2018 to 2019 and at Minnesota from 2010 to 2012.

Reft has spent time with both the men’s and women’s national teams – playing for the men’s team from 2006 to 2010 and again from 2012 to 2015 – to complement his professional playing career overseas and collegiate career as the starting libero at Hawai’i. Reft currently holds a seasonal role as an assistant coach for the U.S. Women’s National Team.

“We are excited to welcome Alfee as the new head coach of the UCLA women’s volleyball program,” said UCLA senior associate athletic director Kenny Donaldson in a statement. “His technical knowledge of the game of volleyball and the care and support he has shown for his student-athletes throughout his career makes us excited for the future of this program.”

Reft will inherit a program that has missed the NCAA championships twice in the last five seasons and has seen a number of players either graduating or entering the transfer portal. 

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Amelie Ionescu | Sports senior staff
Ionescu was previously an assistant Sports editor on the men's volleyball, women's volleyball, swim and dive and rowing beats, and a contributor on the women's tennis beat.
Ionescu was previously an assistant Sports editor on the men's volleyball, women's volleyball, swim and dive and rowing beats, and a contributor on the women's tennis beat.
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