Utah volleyball is officially beginning a new chapter. On Monday, longtime head coach Beth Launiere announced she is retiring after 36 seasons with the program, ending one of the most impactful coaching careers in University of Utah history. The program also confirmed that associate head coach Alyssa D’Errico will become Utah’s next head coach.
Launiere finishes as the winningest coach the program has ever had, compiling a 689-439 record. When she took over in 1990, Utah volleyball had a limited history of success. Over the decades that followed, she elevated the Utes into a nationally competitive program, leading them to 20 NCAA tournament berths and four Sweet Sixteen runs in 2001, 2008, 2017 and 2019.
Under her direction, the Utes developed a reputation for defensive grit, physicality at the net and a steady, disciplined approach to the game. Utah also produced long stretches in the national rankings, including two 45-week streaks in the AVCA Top-25 poll. Over the course of her career, Launiere earned four conference coach of the year honors and helped guide the program through significant eras of conference realignment and growth.
In her retirement statement, Launiere acknowledged both the difficulty of the decision and the pride she carries for what the program has become.
“After 36 years as the head volleyball coach at the University of Utah, I have made the difficult decision to announce my retirement,” she said. “While it is not easy to walk away from a lifetime’s work, I am ready and excited to begin the next chapter of my life. As your coach, it has been an honor to represent one of the greatest universities in the country.”
Launiere thanked her athletes, assistant coaches, staff and fans, saying the strength of those relationships defined her coaching experience.
“I will never forget the blood, sweat and tears of Crimson Court and the laughs we shared,” she said. “Together we built a program that won at the highest levels, helped us to learn lifelong lessons, and to love, trust and respect each other … I will forever love Utah and will always be a Ute.”
As the program moves forward, Utah will now be led by Alyssa D’Errico, who has served as associate head coach for the past three seasons and brings a respected coaching background along with four national championships earned during her playing career at Penn State. Known for her defensive expertise and ability to connect with athletes, D’Errico has long been viewed as a rising coaching voice in college volleyball
Utah Athletic Director Mark Harlan voiced his confidence in her taking the helm.
“Alyssa D’Errico is a tremendous identifier of talent and is elite in developing student-athletes and building genuine relationships,” Harlan said. “With her championship pedigree, All-America playing experience, and the three years she has spent at the University of Utah as associate head coach, she is uniquely equipped to take over leadership of our volleyball program. I’m thrilled to appoint Alyssa as our new head coach, and excited to see her establish herself as this program’s leader, building on the legacy that Beth Launiere has built.”
Launiere also expressed her full support for her successor.
“I couldn’t be more pleased for Alyssa D’Errico to be named the next head volleyball coach at the University of Utah,” Launiere said. “She has great knowledge of the game and a work ethic second to none. Alyssa is a leader who invests in her players in both time and care, and is a tremendous role model for young women. Her exceptionalism as a four-time NCAA Women’s Volleyball National Champion was a prelude to her extraordinary attributes as a coach. I have no doubt Alyssa will maintain the culture we have strived to create and continue Utah Volleyball’s winning tradition.”
For the first time in 36 years, Utah volleyball will have a new leader on the sideline. And while Launiere’s presence will be missed, the foundation she established continues to shape the future of the program.
