Tony Graystone, the winningest coach
in West Texas A&M volleyball history, has been named the new
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi head volleyball coach
interim Director
of Athletics Scott Street announced late Monday.
Graystone has
spent the past 10 seasons as the head coach at West Texas A&M
posting a 315-61 record. His .837 winning percentage was the
third-highest among active NCAA Division II head coaches and he
reached 300 victories faster than any other coach in the division's
history. He reached 100 wins in 106 games making him the quickest
coach at the time in any NCAA sport or division to reach the
century mark in wins. He was named the Lone Star Conference Coach
of the Year five times and the AVCA Southwest Region Coach of the
Year on four occasions.
"This is a
great opportunity for myself and my family," said Graystone. "I am
looking forward to the challenge and am getting excited to meet the
players and hit the ground running."
"I am very
excited to have Tony as our new volleyball coach," said Street. "He
has a wealth of experience and has a proven track record as
exhibited by his winning percentage, numerous conference titles and
NCAA Tournament appearances."
He is the third
coach in Islander history. Graystone replaces Kimberly Martinez who
resigned in December after three seasons at the
Island University.
At West Texas
A&M, he guided the Lady Buffs to Lone Star Conference crowns in
eight of his 10 seasons and to five NCAA regional titles. He
mentored 16 All-Americans and one Division II National Player of
the Year in 1999. His 2001 team was ranked No. 1 for seven weeks,
while his 2002 team held the top spot for five weeks. In 2003, his
team set an NCAA standard with 77 conference wins in a row.
Prior to
becoming the head coach, Graystone was an assistant coach for the
Lady Buffs and was part of the coaching staff that won the NCAA
Division II Championship in 1997. He also served as the program
director for the Amarillo Junior Olympic Volleyball Club. He began
his career as a head coach at Waggoner and Ballard High Schools in
Louisville.
He earned an
M.S. in exercise physiology from the University of Louisville in
1996 after graduating with a B.S. in Health Sciences with an
emphasis in exercise science from Grand Valley State in 1992.
Graystone and
his wife Lauren have two sons, Drew and Dylan.
