California Golden Bears Athletics

BERKELEY – Rich Feller, a two-time National Coach of the Year who led Cal's volleyball program to its first-ever Pac-12 championship and only berths ever in the NCAA Final Four, announced his retirement on Monday after 18 seasons with the Golden Bears and 32 years overall as a collegiate head coach.

"I just feel like this is the right time," said Feller, easily the winningest coach in Cal volleyball history with a record of 329-229. "I've had a long and rewarding career. I believe I have always given everything I had to the teams and players I have coached. In return, I have received rewards beyond anything I could have ever imagined and built relationships that will last a lifetime. Coaching is a noble profession and I am thankful to have had the opportunity to coach for so long. I have my health, intend to stay active and am looking forward to what comes next."

Feller, who will turn 66 next month, took over the Cal program in 1999 and by 2002 had the Golden Bears in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 13 years. That began a run of a program-record 12 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, during which Cal qualified for the Final Four in 2007 and 2010, made four consecutive trips to the NCAA Elite Eight and advanced to the Sweet 16 six times.

During his tenure, Feller coached 17 All-Americans, including 2010 National Player of the Year and 2016 U.S. Olympian Carli Lloyd. He also helped produce the only Pac-12 Player of the Year in program history – Hana Cutura in 2009.

"I've coached hundreds of amazing student-athletes," Feller said. "It's easy to focus on the All-Americans and all-conference players, and I'll never forget them. But they are only part of the story. I will also remember all the special athletes that trained hard, believed in what we were trying to accomplish and helped Cal build a reputation as a national power."

Feller's accomplishments extended to the classroom as well. Under his stewardship, the program earned 107 Pac-12 All-Academic honors and produced four Academic All-Americans. The Bears' NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) has been a perfect 100 percent in each of the past five years.

Feller also served on the 2014 Chancellor's Task Force on Academics and Athletics that examined how to maximize performance for student-athletes and provide for a more enriching campus experience.

"I want to thank Rich for everything he has done for Cal volleyball and our athletic department over the past 18 years," Cal Director of Athletics Mike Williams said. "He led our program to unprecedented heights and to the top of collegiate volleyball, including our first Pac-12 title and Final Four appearances. But even more important, his student-athletes excelled in the classroom and always represented our university in a first-class manner. Rich was also a valued voice and my colleague on the Chancellor's Task Force. We wish him well in his retirement."

Feller was named National Coach of the Year in 2007, when the Bears advanced to the first NCAA Final Four in program history. He won the honor again in 2010 when Cal went all the way to the NCAA championship match.

Feller began his collegiate head coaching career in 1983 at Colorado State, where in his first season he led the Rams to the first NCAA Tournament appearance in program history. He went on to take CSU to seven more postseason berths, two conference titles and 12 final top-25 rankings in 14 years in charge of the program.

Feller also spent two years as an assistant coach for the U.S. National Team. In 2013, he became the 29^th coach in Division I history to register 600 career wins.

Associate Head Coach Matt McShane has been named interim head coach. A national search for Feller's replacement will begin immediately.

Feller's last day at Cal will be June 29.

"I'll be around," Feller said. "Stacey and I will buy season tickets. I am looking forward to sitting in the stands and watching these amazing young women gel as collegiate athletes and teammates."