Truckee Meadows Community College has taken a major step forward in launching its new Women's Volleyball program, with the hiring of Craig Choate as head coach. He has more than 25 years of collegiate coaching experience and a proven record of success at multiple levels. Choate not only brings leadership and knowledge but also a new vision for this new program that will start in the Fall Semester.

Choate's background provides a strong foundation for building a competitive, value-driven team from the ground up.

Why TMCC?
After a few years of setting coaching aside, Craig learned about the new program that TMCC was implementing and showed an interest. He decided to step in and bring his passion and commitment to this new team. "I think this can be an interesting position, coming back to the volleyball court is always fun," Choate said.

A Proven Leader with Decades of Experience
Coach Choate arrives at TMCC with one of the most extensive resumes in collegiate volleyball. Over his career, he has coached nearly 700 matches as a head coach, setting new standards for success at multiple institutions.

He spent fourteen seasons as head coach at San Jose State University, where he compiled a 244-191 record, making him the longest-tenured coach in program history and its all-time leader in wins. Throughout his run in the program, Choate led the Spartans to three NCAA Tournament appearances, earning five 20-win seasons, and was named Western Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 1999.

Choate also held head coaching positions at Northern Arizona University (NAU), Snow College, Southern Utah, and New Mexico State, revitalizing programs and guiding teams to historic success. At Snow College, he led the Badgers to a 20-7 record and a top-10 national ranking, while at NAU he posted the best winning percentage in school history and coached multiple all-conference and academic honorees.

In addition to his head coaching roles, Choate has served as an assistant coach at BYU, Cal Poly, Pepperdine, and Utah State, giving him experience across Division 1 programs and conferences. 

Excitement for the New Volleyball Program
With the season approaching, the new Mighty Lizards will be able to show how capable they are to fit in a very tight competition where they'll have to show not only volleyball skills, but also discipline and resilience,"First day at practice is when we start to realize how good we can be, Can we be better than the competition think we can be?, season always gets you tired, but when you see the light at the end of the tunnel, you start asking yourself, "Are we good enough to make the playoffs?, and that is when it gets exciting".

Building Student-Athletes the Right Way
Coach Choate's career reflects a strong commitment to player development both on and off the court. Throughout his coaching journey, he has guided dozens of athletes to academic all-conference honors, demonstrating a consistent focus on education, discipline, and long-term success. 

For Choate, wearing a team jersey is something that must be earned and valued. "There's a lot of people that would like to make the team but can't, so you should appreciate the fact that you're on it and that it's more of a privilege than a right," he said. This mindset reinforces his belief that commitment, gratitude, and work ethic are essential traits for athletes representing TMCC.

By instilling these traits, Choate aims to build not only a competitive volleyball program but one that produces disciplined, motivated individuals who take pride in representing the College on and off the court.

A Message to the First TMCC Volleyball Athletes
Coach Choate knows that student-athletes are excited at the beginning of the season as they represent the institution, and they will serve as an inspiration for other future student-athletes. "Students who come to this program will officially be part of TMCC history. It is the first NJCAA 1 volleyball program in Nevada," said Choate.

Looking Ahead
As TMCC prepares for the launch of its Women's Volleyball program, the hiring of Craig Choate signals a commitment to excellence, experience, and strong leadership. With a proven ability to build successful programs and develop student-athletes, Choate is well-positioned to guide the future of TMCC volleyball into a promising one.

The foundation is set, and now a new chapter for TMCC Athletics is just beginning.