AZUSA, Calif. -- Chris Keife has been named women’s volleyball head coach at Azusa Pacific, Director of Athletics Bill Odell announced today.

A 1999 graduate of Cal State Fullerton, Keife spent last season as the head coach at Golden State Athletic Conference member Hope International in Fullerton, Calif. In his first-ever head coaching assignment as well as his lone season at Hope International, Keife orchestrated the biggest turnaround in GSAC volleyball history.

Keife inherited a program that had gone a combined 15-100 overall and 1-75 in conference-play since joining the GSAC in 1999. He inherited virtually the same team that went 7-23 overall, 0-20 in the GSAC in 2002. In his one season at the helm, Keife guided the Royals to their best season in school history in any sport, setting several school records in the process.

He led the Royals to a 20-18 overall record, which marked their first winning campaign in school history. The Royals finished 9-11 in GSAC play, which was good for a fifth place finish and a spot in the NAIA Region II Playoffs, marking the first NAIA playoff appearance for any team in school history.

“We are very excited to have hired a coach with the solid experience and expertise that Chris brings to us,” said Odell. “His knowledge of the conference is an added benefit. Chris is a great fit for the University, and he will bring enthusiasm and passion to our volleyball program. He will have an immediate impact on Azusa Pacific and the young women who he will coach and the students he will teach.”

Prior to his season at Hope International, Keife spent 2 seasons (2001-02) as a volunteer assistant coach at NCAA Division I-national power University of Southern California under the direction of nationally-respected head coach Mick Haley. He was part of a staff that led the Trojans to the 2002 NCAA National Championship.

Keife was also an assistant for 5 seasons at his alma-mater Whittier Christian High, where he coached Azusa Pacific team members Jenna and Joelle Sagehorn. In his time at Whittier Christian, the Heralds became the first women’s team in school history to win a CIF championship when they captured the 2000 title. They also won the 2000 Olympic League championship and advanced to the CIF Quarterfinals in 1999. From 1998-2000, Keife also assisted with the men’s program, leading the Heralds to a 1999 CIF Semifinal appearance.

In addition to his collegiate and high school coaching, Keife was also an active coach for 3 seasons (2000-02) in the Asics Nova Volleyball Club. As the head coach for the Girl’s Under-16 division, Keife made 2 consecutive appearances in the U.S. Junior Olympics and had 2 different teams ranked in the top 10 of the SCVA.

“I am extremely excited about this opportunity,” said Keife. “This is a place I wanted to coach at for some time now. I am most excited about being a part of the Azusa Pacific community, and I am looking forward to building on past successes.”

Keife, who earned his master’s degree in physical education from Azusa Pacific in December 2003, will also teach in the university’s physical education department.